The Wrath of Becky (2023) is directed by Matt Angel & Suzanne Coote and stars Lulu Wilson, Seann William Scott, Aaron Dalla Villa, Michael Sirow, Matt Angel, Jill Larson, Denise Burse, Courtney Gains, and Katy Siegel. This is the sequel to Becky (2020) and follows the titular teenager (Wilson) after members of a domestic terrorist group murder her beloved foster mom. Seeking revenge, Becky tracks them to a secluded cabin where she faces off against their charismatic yet psychotically violent leader, Darryl (Scott). Like the previous film, the group soon faces deadly consequences when they realize that Becky isn’t a typical 16-year-old.

Lulu Wilson once again proves to be a capable and charismatic lead. Although it’s clear that she has improved as a performer, it helps that the character’s age feels more appropriate. A 16-year-old taking on a group of violent thugs stretches credulity, but not half as much as a 13-year-old. The younger Becky adds to the first film’s sense of fun-loving unreality, but silliness isn’t what that movie/this franchise lacks. By allowing Becky to age, she becomes a much more grounded protagonist who helps to balance the series’ Grindhouse sensibilities. The character’s pervasively snarky attitude is sure to repel certain viewers (specifically adults), but it’s clear that this is intentional. Although Becky is the clear protagonist, she acts as a uniquely effective slasher villain. She’s unsettling on multiple levels because she’s pretty much the prime example of everything the typical adult hates about moody teenagers. Teenagers are already impossible to talk to, but turning one into a merciless killer on top of that is straight nightmare fuel.

Seann William Scott plays against type as the villain similar to Kevin James in the first film. He’s good, but it remains squarely in the realm of what feels like stunt casting. Although much more menacing than usual, he never fully commits to being a villainous presence. His disarming Minnesota accent fails to intimidate the viewer and honestly just feels like a slightly more religious version of Steve Stiffler, his character from the American Pie franchise. Thankfully, the tight script assures that the character never overstays his welcome. Scott isn’t the most skilled actor, but his presence is always fun and that’s no different here. I never believed the character, but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a joy to see him crack a few skulls.

Even though the story is too similar to its predecessor, this is easily the superior installment. It’s edited so that no scene feels unnecessary, resulting in a more streamlined version of the first film. It’s also nice that this script features a handful of great twists/surprises that would feel tonally inappropriate in any other franchise. Regardless of its B-movie sensibilities, it’s clear that the writers took their time to trim away the script’s rough edges. 

Overall, this is a notable improvement compared to its predecessor and should easily satisfy established fans. Becky is still a “love or hate” kind of character, but it’s clear that she’s designed to enrage the viewer in some capacity. What surprises me about the script is that it does a much better job of pushing forward the franchise’s overarching story than I was initially expecting. In other words, this film is less “stand-alone” than I thought it would be – something I think works in its favor. It’s derivative of its predecessor (which admittedly isn’t very original in its own right), but the overall execution is a large improvement. It’s a lean, mean, and goofy ride that should easily satisfy fans of this kind of hyper-violent, dark-comedy revenge film. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but you won’t find me complaining if they decide to make Becky 3. B-