The Wrath of Becky Review

The Wrath of Becky review.

The sequel to 2020’s Becky leans into the fun of the B-movie set-up to deliver a lean, mean, efficient killing machine. Lulu Wilson creates a character capable of handling any situation. This includes leading a franchise.

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The Wrath of Becky

Directed by Matt Angel and Suzanne Coote

Written by Matt Angel, Suzanne Coote and Nick Morris

Starring Lulu Wilson, Sean William Scott, Denise Burse, Jill Larson, Michael Sirow and Kate Siegel

The Wrath of Becky Review

Full disclosure:  this reviewer has not seen the 2020 film Becky for which The Wrath of Becky serves as a direct sequel.  My familiarity with the Beckyverse ends at Paul Blart playing a neo-Nazi.  At least I think that’s right.  Either way…I’m happy to report that you don’t need to have watched The King of Queens commit hate crimes to enjoy what The Wrath of Becky has to offer.  There are plenty of hate groups in need of Becky’s particular brand of vengeance.

Three years after the events of Becky, the titular teen (Lulu Wilson) has been on the run from foster care and trying to live life on her terms.  After running afoul of a fascist group called the Noble Men…she stumbles onto their insurrection plot.  Taking matters into her own hands once again…Becky must defeat and expose the group while rescuing her trust dog, Diego.

If the plot synopsis sounds borderline ridiculous…don’t worry.  The Wrath of Becky knows it.  One of the best aspects of the movie is that it leans into the fun of the pure B-movie set-up.  Characters are defined by their over-the-top nature.  Death is dealt in equally over-the-top measure.  It’s a movie that knows what you want to see from a teenager hunting down fascists story…and delivers exactly that.

The movie catches viewers up to speed on Becky’s previous run-in with fascists quickly and effectively.  It gives her something new to avenge just as swiftly.  This isn’t a movie that wastes a lot of time getting to the point.  It does, however, have a modicum of patience within a given scene.  Actors have the room to establish their characters.  Scenes have the room to breathe.  The movie is better for it. 

Lulu Wilson returns as Becky…and makes for a fantastic protagonist.  Becky is the kind of hero that you rarely worry about the safety of.  She’s in control.  I assume this is a departure from the original film…but a necessary one to push the series forward.  It’s a classic final girl story, really.  They can’t start from square one after learning how to survive (and…kill a bunch of Nazis) the first time around.  The innocence is lost.  It isn’t coming back.

Sean William Scott steps into the shoes of an unlikely actor playing a monster this go around.  Best knows for his comedy roles…there’s nothing to laugh at in his Noble Men leader Darryl.  He’s appropriately intense and authoritative.  Impressively, he doesn’t go for the low hanging comedic fruit despite being surrounded by buffoons.  Most of the fascists in The Wrath of Becky are portrayed as caricatures.  Dangerous…but the laughable sort that you know will meet a fitting end sooner than later.  Darryl has larger plans than dealing with a teenager looking for vengeance on his house guests.

While it would be a bit reductive to refer to everyone else in The Wrath of Becky as fodder…it wouldn’t be inaccurate. Vengeance movies need characters that you want to see murdered in inventive and colorful ways. We get them here. A pack of unlikable fools asking for it. They get it.

The MacGuffin of the first film (a mysterious key with coordinates etched onto it) returns here.  The Wrath of Becky has its own version of this (a thumb drive containing information on all Noble Men members) to drive the plot forward…but the key plays a (forgive me) key part around the margins of the story.  While we don’t learn the secret of the key…the franchise isn’t done discussing it.  By the time the credits roll on The Wrath of Becky, the key has become a promise of continued adventure.  A call to a discovery of deeper lore. 

If The Wrath of Becky is any indication…we would be well served by another chapter.   Lulu Wilson has established a role with the legs to carry a franchise.  The head-exploding kills and accompanying teen angst dialog gives the series a unique feel.  While this second installment clearly has a continuation on its mind…it doesn’t shirk its responsibility in delivering a worthwhile film.  A film that makes you want another one more than any cliffhanger ending could.

Scare Value

The Wrath of Becky has its eyes set firmly on the future. You can’t help but look forward to what Becky’s next adventure holds…and that’s largely by design. There’s a lot of bad people out there…and plenty of room for a teenage ass-kicker hell bent on destroying them all. The Wrath of Becky is a very good installment for the budding franchise. Fun kills dealt to characters who deserve them. It’s exactly what a vengeance movie should be.

3.5/5

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