Year: 2020

Runtime: 100 Minutes

Directors: Jonathan Milott, Cary Murnion

Writers: Ruckus Skye, Lane Skye, Nick Morris

Stars: Lulu Wilson, Joel McHale, Kevin James, Amanda Brugel, Robert Maillet

By Zofia Wijaszka

This review may contain spoilers to “Becky.”

When you join “Home Alone” and “Die Hard” together, then blend it with the gore of “Kill Bill,” you may just create something exciting and bloody as hell. The newest creation from Cary Murnion and Jonathan Millot tried it and directed a spunky film where Lulu Wilson shines brighter and scares more than Kevin James as a neo-nazi. Yes, I just said that.

Titular Becky (Lulu Wilson) is a teenage girl, full of anger and despair. After losing her mom to cancer, she and her dad, Jeff (Joel McHale), go for a weekend getaway to their lake house. Sadly, the rebellious girl is surprised by the arrival of Jeff’s girlfriend, Kayla (Amanda Brugel), and her son, Ty (Isaiah Rockcliffe). Full of rage, she and her loyal dog storm outside the house to the wooden fort in the middle of the forest.

The chain of events wouldn’t even be in the teenage girl’s wildest imagination. Four prisoners, furious neo-nazis escape the prison and are in search of a secret key that (surprise-surprise!), is in the lake house. But Dominick (Kevin James), Apex (Robert Maillet), Cole (Ryan McDonald), and Hammond (James McDougall) have no idea who they’re up against. Becky unleashes her inner demon, and the bloody carnage commences.

“Becky” operates fast, and you cannot even think for a moment before you meet four dangerous nazis rolling into Jeff’s house. The action quickly escalates from scene to scene, which makes you sit at the edge of your chair. Once Wilson’s character looks at the picture painted by her mom and puts on her hat with foxy ears, you know that there will be trouble. The blood splatters all over the place, and brains are flying by the time Becky is done. James, who’s portraying a big, scary nazi, ends up being slightly meek compared to the main protagonist. It’s fascinating to see the strength of grief and unbelievable sadness that washes over you and infuriates you. And that’s what the character of Becky explicates. 

“Becky” operates fast, and you cannot even think for a moment before you meet four dangerous nazis rolling into Jeff’s house. The action quickly escalates from scene to scene, which makes you sit at the edge of your chair.

In comparison, McHale feels strange in a more serious role. As a teenager’s father, the actor doesn’t have much scope to show off. Brugel, on the other hand, has much more to say. Her character, trapped in the lake house, sitting on the couch with her son, tries to figure out the way to escape. The actress, known from “The Handmaid’s Tale,” could be much more of an asset if the creators developed her role as a step-mother-to-be and let her play a bigger part in the film.

But those small hiccups on the way are nothing compared to the outrageous, grisly character displayed by Wilson. It almost seems that everybody in the film is set as a background for the vengeful, outright vile personality of Becky. Even brainwashed character of James with his tattoos on the head and arms seems like nothing. If you cringe when Marv steps on the Christmas decorations or gets hit with an iron in “Home Alone”, believe me – you’ll probably faint on “Becky.” Not everybody can handle blood-soaked films. But if you think you can do it for a teenage female protagonist, it’s worth it. 

It almost seems that everybody in the film is set as a background for the vengeful, outright vile personality of Becky. Even brainwashed character of James with his tattoos on the head and arms seemed like nothing.

What also adds spice and tension to an already jittery thriller is music by Nima Fakhrara. The Iranian music composer hit the jackpot by creating intense, loud notes that accompanied the most acute scenes. Murnion and Millo rarely bore their spectators, which they previously proved with “Cooties.” “Becky” is also far from boredom. Despite the script that doesn’t really deviate from the norm, the young actress playing the leading role draws all of the viewers’ attention. One of the disadvantages that took rating stars is violence against Becky’s dogs. We already got four brutal neo-nazis and killing machine that’s a teenager. The animal violence is simply the last straw that broke the camel’s back. Thankfully, the titular teenager “John Wick-ed” them all.

“Becky” isn’t for everyone. Yet, it’s a thriller that’s nasty, outrageous, and bloody fun. With this creation, Lulu Wilson prophesies a fruitful acting career. If you feel like some bad guys getting their butts kicked by a petite teenage girl, you will have a hell of the fun.