Review: ‘Becky’ is a Blood-Soaked Love Letter to Wes Craven Films

June 3, 2020

becky movie review — Courtesy of Quiver Distribution

In the past three months, as the world has been turned upside down by the coronavirus, the one constant for most of us is that we have been able to take solace in the safety of our homes with our families. Our houses (or apartments) have shielded us from the danger of the virus and allowed us to keep our loved ones safe. This fundamental need for safety and shelter from the outside world, firmly entrenched in the second tier of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, is something that has remained constant throughout time. If we can’t be secure in our own homes, our world begins to fall apart. The violation of the sanctity of our home is a trope that has been exploited many times throughout film history, particularly in the horror genre. Films such as Last House on the Left, The Strangers, Funny Games, You’re Next, and countless others have used this very real fear to unnerve and terrify audiences for decades. Becky, the home invasion/revenge film from directors Jonathan Milott and Cary Murnion, is a strong new entry that won’t disappoint fans of the subgenres.

The film begins with a very sleek opening sequence that sways back and forth from a prison fight and a school fight in which the similarities are striking. We are introduced to our protagonist, the titular Becky Hooper (Lulu Wilson, The Haunting of Hill House), and we quickly learn that her mother has recently passed away from cancer and that the teen is struggling to come to terms with her death. Her father, Jeff (Joel McHale, Community), decides to surprise Becky with a trip to their lake house, albeit with Jeff’s new fiancé Kayla (Amanda Brugel, The Handmaid’s Tale) and her young son Ty (Isaiah Rockcliffe). At the same time, we meet Dominick (Kevin James, The King of Queens), a skinhead prisoner who is able to escape during a prison transport, along with several other convicts. After posing as state patrolmen and hijacking a vehicle (a brutal sequence), Dominick and his partner Apex (Robert Maillet, Sherlock Holmes) make their way to the lake house and enter the home under false pretense. The two convicts, along with another pair of escapees, terrorize the family in search of a key (presumably to a stash of money). When they learn that Becky is not in the house (she had gone into the woods), all hell breaks loose as they attempt to force Becky to return. Becky, however, has an inner strength and will to survive that the men had not counted on.

Along with the films previously mentioned, Becky recalls another pair of Wes Craven classics, A Nightmare on Elm Street and its heroine Nancy and Scream and its survivor Sidney Prescott, along with other strong female protagonists Sarah Connor in The Terminator and T2, Laurie Strode (particularly Rob Zombie’s Halloween remake), and Sarah Carter in The Descent. Wilson’s Becky is a worthy addition to that class of female heroines, perhaps even more so given the age of Becky (around 15-16 years old). As for the gore factor in this film, it was surprisingly high, with some terrific practical effects by Alissa Gee and company that should satisfy the hardiest of gorehounds. The story is fast-paced and clever, with some excellent editing and a terrific score by Nima Fakhrara that is reminiscent of the terrifying music in films such as Mandy and The Hills Have Eyes remake.

The big hook of Becky is Kevin James as escaped convict Dominick. In a stark departure from his funnyman roles in films such as Paul Blart: Mall Cop and Grown-Ups, James tackles his first dramatic role with full aplomb and he nails it. Nearly unrecognizable (at first glance, anyway) with a shaved head and long beard, James brings darkness and menace I would have never expected from him. The massive contrast from his comedic roles to the cold-blooded skinhead killer Dominick only adds to the terror he brings to the screen. But as great as James is in the role, the real breakout performance of the film is that of Lulu Wilson who, as pointed out earlier, embodies a character full of strength and courage that defies her young age. The range Wilson shows in her portrayal of the grief-stricken, rage-filled Becky is nothing short of fantastic. Watching her throughout the film reminds one of a couple of recent powerful performances in horror, that of Toni Collette in Hereditary and Essie Davis in The Babadook. The difference, of course, is the age and experience of those fine actresses versus young Wilson.

Although the film treads familiar ground, both with the home invasion and the female revenge themes, it feels fresh and entertaining. Wilson and James carry much of the film and their powerful performances serve the film quite well. If the movie feels like a female empowerment film, well, it is, perhaps thanks in part to the largely female crew behind the film. And is it isn’t evident by now, Becky also has a very heavy Wes Craven-influence, and of course Craven’s films often featured themes of female empowerment and survival.

Becky is a highly enjoyable, entertaining blood-soaked revenge tale. The film flies by and never drags. With strong performances by Wilson and James, as well as McHale and Maillet, and some surprising twists and turns along the way, Becky manages to succeed in a way that you might not expect upon first glance. And it is always comforting to know that we all may have an inner Becky in us when it comes to defending our home and protecting those we love. It’s the perfect film for these strange, unusual times we are all currently living through.

Becky will be in theaters, drive-ins, On Digital, and On Demand starting June 5, 2020.