‘The Wrath of Becky’ review: The bloody angry teen killer returns

March 12, 2023

SXSW: Two years after a neo-Nazi played by Kevin James ruined young Becky’s life, he’s back to take out more white trash racists, now led by Seann William Scott.

When we last left “Becky” (starring an extraordinary Lulu Wilson), she had managed to take out an entire neo-Nazi cell (led by Kevin James, of all people) who had brilliantly and gruesomely planned their demise after she and her patient. fated dad clashed with the bad guys during the world’s worst family vacation. Jonathan Milott and Cary Murnion’s quirky “Becky” doesn’t do much more than deliver on its promise of turning a teenage girl into a righteous killer—and again, how lucky it is to cast the tough and edgy Wilson in the title role—but it’s it felt like there was more ground to cover (and more blood to spill).

Thus: Continue! Coming just three years after Milott and Murnion’s indie hit (it earned more than $1 million at the box office in the summer of 2020, no easy feat), “The Wrath of Becky” certainly delivers. more – it’s more of the same. The kills are gruesome and clever, Wilson is a marvel, the bad guys all deserve what’s coming, and it feels like it’s not all wasted.

If “Becky” left fans hungry for more, “The Wrath of Becky” will only triple that desire: After more than three hours of “Becky”-based entertainment, this franchise finally it seems to get somewhere – and then it’s over. Do you have the patience for that? At least more white trash racists and sexists are maniacally murdered in the process.

“Becky’s Wrath” was written and directed by Matt Angel (who also co-stars) and Suzanne Coote; they also directed the Netflix thriller “Hypnotic”. Despite the infusion of new blood, this sequel seems like a complete departure from its predecessor. After wading through a largely unnecessary (though darkly amusing) opening sequence in which we learn that Becky has spent the past two years cycling through foster homes (joined by her beloved dog Diego, of course), we travel further in time to find Becky. he lives in the country home of lovely Elena (Denise Burse).

Elena, as we know, picked up a hitchhiking Becky and immediately took her in as a boarder, no questions asked, even as Becky began using Elena’s expansive backyard to practice her literal killer techniques. Are you expecting Elena to reveal herself as someone with secrets of her own? Eh, think again. Narrative misdirection aside, Becky and Elena make a sort of peace with each other, with Becky (Becky!!) attending an evening exercise where the pair share what they’re thankful for.

It’s going great really, but as Angel and Coote cut to more news of a growing movement of proto-Proud Boys (they’re called the Nobles, and they sound like real dick), who might be coming to town to wreak their own little uprising. (inspired, of course, by a visit from a Latino politician), it’s clear that Becky will soon meet her next very worthy victims. Before long, the three (Angel, Michael Sirow, and Aaron Dalla Villa) arrive at the quiet diner where Becky works, full of racist and sexist thugs eager to meet their supposed leader for a weekend of light-hearted insurrection.

Suffice it to say, never bet against Becky. And while the trio ultimately do more than enough to inspire anyone they go on a killing spree, having no idea who they’ve pissed off, when they confront Becky. Of course, we know exactly who she is, and while that somewhat dilutes the shock that “Becky” had— the teenage girl? WHO murders? “At least Angel and Coote are up in the ante when it comes to murdering Becky.” The same can be said for the bad guys they’ve come up with, especially Seann William Scott (who seems to be taking over Kevin James’ role) as the leader of the Nobles, who offers a bit more dimension than Becky’s first nemesis.

It’s all the same though, and as much as we root for Becky – and boy do we, these nobles are beyond rubbish – the film lacks energy and has an ancient sense of ‘continuing’! this is impossible to shake. (Kill them, Becky, yes, girl, do it, set that bear trap, yay!) It’s numbing, and even worse when you think back to how great Wilson is in the role and how much more terrifying these villains are. should feel in 2023.

Angel and Coote surprise by the end of the film, offering a new future – and if the audience turns up, surely another sequel – for Becky, complete with the express directive to get out of the deserving, this time a little more subtle. Do we have the patience for another Becky movie in the hopes that this one can deliver on Wilson’s promise and her character’s righteous fury? After enduring “Becky” and “The Wrath of Becky,” we deserve a real treat. Bring more, but for Becky’s sake, make it better.