Horror sequels almost never work, especially when they come seven years after the original. But Ready or Not 2: Here I Come has apparently pulled off the impossible, premiering at SXSW to glowing reviews and a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Let me explain why this is remarkable. The original Ready or Not was a nearly perfect horror-comedy—a tight 95 minutes of Samara Weaving running around a mansion in a wedding dress while her new in-laws tried to murder her as part of a demonic game. It was clever, bloody, funny, and knew exactly when to end. Making a sequel to something that self-contained is inherently risky.

But directors Radio Silence (the team behind the Scream reboot) have somehow matched the original's anarchic energy. Early reviews praise Weaving's return and the film's willingness to escalate the mayhem rather than just repeat it. One critic called it "explosively fun," another said it "plays for keeps."

The key, it seems, is that they're not just remaking the first film with different set pieces. Weaving's character Grace has survived her nightmare wedding night, and now she's dealing with the fallout. The sequel apparently expands the mythology of the satanic board game that started it all, which is exactly what you want from a horror sequel—bigger stakes, deeper lore, more creative kills.

Weaving deserves particular praise. After Ready or Not, she should have become a massive star, but Hollywood being Hollywood, she's been criminally underused. This sequel gives her another showcase for her ability to balance physical comedy, genuine terror, and badass survival instincts. She's one of the best scream queens working today, and it's about time the industry recognized it.

The 100% Rotten Tomatoes score will likely drop as more critics see it—that's just how averages work. But the fact that it's hitting this hard out of SXSW is significant. Festival audiences can be easy to please, but critics at major festivals are usually harder to impress.