'The Wrath of Becky' is a sequel to the 2020 movie 'Becky', which featured Lulu Wilson and Kevin James in the starring roles. This sequel picks up 2 years after the events of the first movie. And for fans, after 3 years of waiting, we finally get a continuation one of the biggest surprises of the year upon its initial release. Enjoying the first installment as much as I did, I went into this with high expectation and the hopes of resolutions to sub-plots that were left unanswered in the first movie. As always with sequels, I wonder, does this tarnish the magic of the original or was this worth the wait?
The character of Becky gains some much needed character development this time around. That's not say I took any issue with her the first time around, but we see her grow and mature into young adulthood, providing much more depth to her characters arc. Lulu Wilson who plays Becky has clearly grown as an actress in the years since her first role in the first film. The use of her inner monologue and the emotional detachment she now shows due to the effects of the events of the first film are at the forefront of her character. As an actress, I found Lulu Wilson to be outstanding, completely embodying the character of Becky.
Shaun William Scott also joins the cast this time around, replacing the "big bad" role that was previously filled by Kevin James. Scott is incredible in this role. I have seen him take on many characters over the years outside of his typecast persona as 'Stifler' from 'American Pie', and every time I see him in a role outside of his usual norm (especially when he ventures into the realms of horror), he always delivers and here is no different. His calm and calculated take on this villainous character makes his presence on screen all the more terrifying to watch play out.
As with the first film, ‘The Wrath of Becky' certainly doesn't hold back on violence. As expected, going bigger and better with its kill sequences and staying true to its practical effects roots where possible. Introducing bigger guns, crossbows, grenades and more Bear traps than a hunter would know what to do with. And as violent as this film gets, it never crosses the line. With the help of Wilson's quippy one liners, it manages to maintain that light undertone throughout.
The direction and cinematography is a vast improvement from 'Becky', even down to the basic visual transitions from scene to scene feels much cleaner. This time around we have directors Matt Angel and Suzanne Coote taking over as both writers and directors for this sequel and it’s clear they both have a strong passion for this character and the world building around her. However, with that in mind, I think there is a possibility they may have "jumped the shark" with the developments made in the closing act, but we will have to wait for a 3rd entry into the world of Becky to see how this implicates the overall narrative.
And whilst I have talked a lot about the comparisons to the first film and how I feel that this sequel has improved substantially in many elements, that is by no means demeaning towards 'Becky' 2020. I am a big fan of the first and everything that film represents, I just can't help but notice the overall growth in quality here. I'm hopeful for a sequel to round this out as a very entertaining trilogy, so if you haven't seen 'The Wrath of Becky', check it out and show it the support it deserves.
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