2020’s Becky was arguably the definition of a sleeper hit, garnering some acclaim through word of mouth and possibly solidified Lulu Wilson as an action star who can certainly hold her own. Did the 2020 movie need a sequel? In all honesty, no, but what writing and directing duo of Matt Angel (Hypnotic) and Suzanne Coote (Hypnotic) brought forth will certainly satisfy fans of both the first Becky movie and those who just want to watch a wildly entertaining action flick that doesn’t always abide by its own rules. The Becky universe (I’m coining this now in case we get a third movie and continue the badassness of the continual rise of Lulu Wilson) is like a monstrous Home Alone if Kevin wasn’t a punk.
Lulu Wilson as Becky in the action/thriller/horror THE WRATH OF BECKY, a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
Staying in tune with the antagonists in the films being politically driven, the first film having focused on Neo-Nazis, a group entitled the Noble Men are present in this one and they’re just a form of Proud Boys who ended up screwing with the wrong house and certainly the wrong girl. Becky (Lulu Wilson) now lives with Elena (Denise Burse) and her dog Diego, but as some of the members of the Noble Men, Anthony, Sean, and DJ (Michael Sirow, Matt Angel and Aaron Dalla Villa respectfully), decide to push Becky beyond her breaking point at her diner job, they realize they’ve made a grave mistake. They follow Becky home and, among other horrendous things, dognap Diego, setting Becky on a path for revenge to make these villains suffer. However, the trio of goons certainly underestimates Becky as they continue with their day and go to meet their Noble Men leader, Darryl (Sean William Scott) leading to their insurrection plans ultimately being exposed. From there, the violence and chaos unfolds tenfold.
L-R: Michael Sirow as Anthony and Matt Angel as Sean in the action/thriller/horror THE WRATH OF BECKY, a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
What makes The Wrath of Becky such a fun and entertaining sequel, aside from our lead protagonist herself, is the fact that the movie continues to stay fresh and inventive with its kills and story. It would have been easy to do the same story, in essence, and just have uninventive kills while having Lulu Wilson (Annabelle: Creation) just deliver some gnarly kills. However, letting the film breath outside of its gratuitous violence and tell a story that’s fleshed out while keeping it straight to the point is one of the stronger things The Wrath of Becky has going for it. There are so many movies that try to do too many things at once and either sacrifice story for violence, sacrifice violence for subtext, or just drone on way past their welcome, but with a tight 83 minutes, the film balances the storytelling and violence incredibly well.
Seann William Scott as Darryl Jr. in the action/thriller/horror THE WRATH OF BECKY, a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
Moreover though, as fun and entertaining as a film may be, if the cast cannot deliver on the action and silliness that is set out in front of them, then the movie certainly falls apart. Wilson continues to deliver in this sequel and balances her young adult persona with that of an assassin who kicks ass and takes names like it’s second nature for her. However, the big shock is Sean William Scott, who very much goes against his typical comedic persona and plays a menacing “noble man.” Without knowing he was in the movie prior to seeing it, it generally caught me off guard when I realized it was Scott. Its nearly a transformative performance for the famously known American Pie actor that proves he can play menacing and terrifying well, similarly to how Kevin James did in the first Becky movie. However, what was the biggest unexpected moment of the film was the chemistry between Wilson and Scott. They’re clearly on opposite ends of their beliefs and what they believe is right and wrong, but it doesn’t play like a deep-seeded hatred but as more of a right and wrong contrast. Even with Wilson’s character murdering people in cold blood, thusly creating a grey area of morality, their contrast and continual juxtaposition between what is right and what is wrong plays well in this atmosphere.
Lulu Wilson as Becky in the action/thriller/horror THE WRATH OF BECKY, a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
The Wrath of Becky is simply an unrelenting violent blast that showcases the best from both of its leads and creates a brutally violent short fun affair. While there is no necessary reason to create a third movie in the Becky universe, it is certainly welcomed if they can continue to create worlds with despicable villains who get what’s coming to them and deliver on the entertainment value that The Wrath of Becky and Becky both do.
In theaters May 26th, 2023.
For more information, head to the official The Wrath of Becky webpage.
Final Score: 3.5 out of 5.
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Categories: In Theaters, Reviews
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