Synopsis
The Wrath of Becky is an American action thriller released in 2023 and the sequel to the 2020 cult film Becky. It is co-directed by Matt Angel and Suzanne Coote and features Lulu Wilson reprising her role as Becky, a survivalist teenager. The sequel injects extreme levels of dark wit, exaggerated violence, and a relevant commentary on the social issues of the day mixed with narratives about empowerment, all while ruthlessly advancing the butchery of the original.
After the first film’s bloodbath, Becky, now 16, is shown trying to live a sheltered and inconspicuous life under the care of Elena, a kindly maternal figure who fosters her. Though the trauma of her past is yet to be fully healed, Becky is looking forward to start anew. Alas, this tranquility is short-lived.
The Noble Men, a far-right extremist group, breach as these peace-disturbers go too far in their demented ideology and way of life. During the break-in, Elena is murdered in cold blood and Becky’s treasured dog, Diego, is snatched away. Now, inferno. Fueled by anguish and fury, Becky becomes fixated on a singular goal—it’s now a race against time to retrieve the Noble Men, save Diego, and settle scores with Elena’s death.
While Becky breaks into the group operations, she learns that the Noble Men are not just some random militia. They have some larger political agenda in the background and are planning to assassinate some high-profile public figure. Seann William Scott plays the role of their leader Darryl Jr. who happens to be a stark shift from Scott’s usual comedic roles. Charismatic, ruthless Darryl is the face of a movement overflowing with hatred and the desire to dominate.
She sets her eyes towards revenge and the path she takes is ruthless and straightforward. She eliminates group members systematically, using traps, weapons, and superior wit to outsmart greater odds, all in a race to overtake Darryl and delve deeper into the organization’s depraved schematics. The climax of the film is a culmination of everything revolving around a shocking initial climax of violence that reveals Becky’s transformation from a vengeful teen to a confident and polished killing machine.
Cast and Characters
Lulu Wilson as Becky: Wilson steps into the role with a striking amount of confidence and physicality. Becky is no longer a traumatized, needs her hand held girl. Rather, she’s a survivor of multiple hardships, choosing to engage with her enemies rather than cower to them. Wilson captivates the audience with an impressive combination of vulnerability and fierce determination.
Seann William Scott as Darryl Jr.: Scott is primarily known for his slapstick Hollywood performances, but he unexpectedly enthralls audiences with the chilling role of a cultist leader. His performance is disturbingly calm, coldly manipulative, and exceedingly calm, starkly contrasting with Becky’s explosive energy.
Denise Burse as Elena: Elena, who fosters Becky, becomes the emotional fulcrum in the early stages of the movie. Her tragedy is what motivates the entire vengeance plot. Despite this, Burse gives life to a character that, albeit short-lived, exudes immense emotional warmth with a fierce strength.
Dean Cundey as Jonathan ‘The Major’ Sanders: The Major is one of the inmates participating in the game, and is likely inspired by real-life death row prisoners who do make monetary profits from their imprisonment. Dean Cundey’s bizarre video camera acting couple with unbridled madness add some form of insanity.
Courtney Gains as Twig, Aaron Dalla Villa as DJ, and Michael Sirow as Anthony: These actors portray the understudies of the Noble Men and their ideological enforcers. Each character serves as a vignette for Becky’s perilous wrath and manifests a different nuance of toxic extremism.
Direction and Style
Directed by Matt Angel and Suzanne Coote, the film takes on a fast-paced comic book aesthetic. The color palette is striking, and the action sequences sanguinary but choreographed with precision. Unlike its predecessor, The Wrath of Becky leans more into dark comedy, with Becky delivering quips and sardonic one-liners even during mindless violence. This shift in tone certainly makes the film feel more stylistically self-aware, akin to Kick-Ass or Hardcore Henry.
Screenplay author Matt Angel adds more social commentary than the original Becky. While in the first film there was only a daughter avenging her father’s murder during a home invasion, the sequel aims higher with themes such as radicalization, political extremism, and resistance. The concept of a teenage girl dismantling a far-right terror group certainly plays into current cultural fears, adding a sharper edge to the film.
The cinematography by Julia Swain describes the beauty and brutality of Becky’s world simultaneously. Scenes oscillate between tranquil moments of ruminating and hyper-violent action. The editing by Stephen Boyer maintains the swift momentum within the narrative.
Nima Fakhrara’s score offers moody soundscapes that raise tension with each passing minute of violence and emotional stakes while adding tension to the builds of the film’s violence.
Reception and Ratings
Critics gave “The Wrath of Becky” a rating in the range between 3 and 3.5 stars out of 5. Gave an offering of Patrice Rodriguez, Wilson’s performance and action sequences were considered highlights. While many audience members regarded the sequel more entertaining than the original, several others found it to fall flat both in terms of creativity or narrative depth. The film focuses on Becky’s vengeful.
Positive reviews came from “The Movie Critic”, who praised its pacing and action, them claiming it out-did its predecessor in narrative interest. One critic removed her diadem from: ‘The Journey to Toronto’, praising the thematic complexity and the thought put into America’s political environment. Other noteworthy critics found the movie disturbing, which adds relevance to horror genre fans.
The film has also fought against movement censorship and the feminist community, which has received great attentioned to because of the slash-heavy ultra-violence. Many fans of horror and adrenaline compare it to “John Wick” and “Ready or Not”, especially for its unapologetic assertive main character.
Conclusion
The Wrath of Becky is a daring and blood-drenched addition to the saga of cinema’s most unusual antihero. This film balances revenge fantasy with political satire and ludicrous action, all of which are enhanced by Lulu Wilson’s extraordinary performance. It isn’t for everyone, especially those who are sensitive to graphic violence and implausible storylines, but it provides without fail a frenetic, blood-soaked journey powered by rage, loss, and the protective wrath of one’s loved ones.
This sequel marks off its own territory by broadening the scope of the original and sharpening its social commentary, demonstrating that Becky isn’t just back – she’s transformed into an indomitable hurricane.
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