READY OR NOT Filmmakers Talk Kills, Playfulness, Samara Weaving and More – Exclusive Interview

Fox Searchlight is releasing READY OR NOT, a funny and thrilling cinematic cocktail!

Desde Hollywood spoke recently with Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, plus Producer Chad Villella, about putting the cinematic puzzle together.

The film stars Samara Weaving, Adam Brody, Mark O’Brien, Henry Czerny, and Andie MacDowell.

READY OR NOT is now playing in theaters nationwide.

Was there a particular challenge in this movie that, by overcoming it, you feel that you became better filmmakers?

Tyler Gillett: We are grateful to have had the opportunity to use all the filmmaking tools at our disposal, in a conventional film. Our previous feature, “Devil’s Due,” was a found footage movie, and there were many limitations in that format. Although this one is our fourth feature, it feels that it was our first one. We could make specific choices when it came to how to shoot a scene, in what style. It was a great opportunity to have so many talented people helping us to achieve our vision, at this level.

This is a mashup of different genres: Horror, thriller… a romantic comedy gone wrong. How did you balance all of those flavors?

Chad Villella: That was actually a great description and exactly what we were going for. We tried to focus on the characters, and living with them every moment, without trying to set things up. For example, there were some jokes in the script that we didn’t end up using in the edit because they didn’t fit natural. You get the comedy and the scares by building the tension to the point where you don’t know what is coming next, and then the laugh comes as a relief. I think that is what the audience is responding to.

Did you have to connect to your inner kids to bring out the playfulness that is palpable in the film?

Matt Bettinelli-Olpin: It was very exciting to have the chance of exploring serious themes but, at the same time, tapping into our childhood sense of play and having fun with it. This family make their money with games, and the movie also feels like a game at some level. I really hope that people can latch onto that and enjoy the fun of the movie.

How was it to craft so many kills that are shocking, but also creative and tasteful?

Tyler Gillett: In our conversations about how to handle the violence, we always talked about tone. We didn’t want to go too far, to a point where it could undermine the different tones that we had. We tried to show just enough so the kills are shocking, and keep the audience on their toes. When you have the audience under that tension, you have many choices: To not show things, just a second, or stay there for a moment. But you don’t have to show gory images all the time. Some of the most horrific kills are impactful thanks to an actor’s reaction.

What do you think made Samara Weaving so perfect for this role?

Matt Bettinelli-Olpin: As a human, she embodied everything we could hope for. On top of that, she is an incredibly talented actor. She has that foundational strengths, and badassness, but she also has a vulnerability to her that is very endearing. Her honesty helps to ground all of the horror and humor in the story.

READY OR NOT follows a young bride (Samara Weaving) as she joins her new husband’s (Mark O’Brien) rich, eccentric family (Adam Brody, Henry Czerny, Andie MacDowell) in a time-honored tradition that turns into a lethal game with everyone fighting for their survival.