[SXSW ’23] ‘The Wrath of Becky’ review: Over the top thriller with something to say

The Wrath of Becky continues the story that began with 2020’s Becky. Two years have passed and Becky is attempting to rebuild her life with the help of a woman named Elena. A chance encounter leads to a break-in from members of an extremist group known as the Noble Men. Before long, the sixteen year old is forced into a fight for her family, friends, and country.

Those who have not seen the first movie will have nothing to worry about. For starters, it is neatly summarized in the opening. More importantly, though there are elements from Becky, the SXSW World Premiere has its own story to tell. Matt Angel (who wrote and directed the film along with Suzanne Coote) stated, “We wanted the film to stand on its own two feet. We wanted to satisfy the audience of the first Becky while bringing in a new audience.”

It can be hard to strike the right tone in a film like The Wrath of Becky. Forgetting that the hero is a teenaged girl, the action is over the top and filled with creative kills and gallons of blood. Angel and Coote lean into the extreme nature by mixing in moments of extreme silliness. The combination of outrageous kills and goofy comedy works and makes the movie perfect for a watch party.

Where things can get difficult is the fact that there is a serious message that works in tandem with all the zaniness. “We wanted to up the ante and steal from headlines,” Coote told AIPT. “The country is in the middle of trauma and we are attempting some therapy.”

The Wrath of Becky manages to bring everything together. Thanks to a frightening performance from Seann William Scott, it never feels like the importance of the issues are being downplayed. The villains are an immediate threat to Becky, but they will also be recognizable to audiences. This makes them frightening even in the wildest moments.

SXSW takes place from March 10 – March 19