The Wrath of Becky
The Wrath of Becky is a 2023 action comedy horror film directed by Matt Angel and Suzanne Coote. Angel wrote the screenplay based off a story by himself and Coote. The film is a sequel to the 2020 film Becky, and features Lulu Wilson returning as the eponymous Becky, alongside Seann William Scott, Angel, Courtney Gains, Aaron Dalla Villa, Michael Sirow, Denise Burse, Jill Larson, and Kate Siegel.
| The Wrath of Becky | |
|---|---|
| Directed by |
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| Screenplay by | Matt Angel |
| Story by |
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| Based on | Characters by
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| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Julia Swain |
| Edited by | Stephen Boyer |
| Music by | Nima Fakhrara |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Quiver Distribution |
Release date |
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Running time | 83 minutes[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Wrath of Becky premiered at the South by Southwest film festival on March 11, 2023.
Synopsis
Two years after the events of Becky, Becky takes on a fascist organization.
Cast
- Lulu Wilson as Becky Hopper
- Seann William Scott as Darryl
- Matt Angel as Sean
- Courtney Gains as Twig
- Aaron Dalla Villa as DJ
- Michael Sirow as Anthony
- Denise Burse as Elana
- Jill Larson
- Kate Siegel as Agent Kate Montana
- Gabriella Piazza as Senator Hernandez
- Alison Cimmet as Alice
- John D. Hickman as Steve
- Pac Williams as Diego
Production
Development
Matt Angel and Suzanne Coote were approached to write and direct a sequel to Becky in December 2021 by producer J.D. Lifshitz.[2] Given no further direction and only three weeks to write the script, Angel watched Kill Bill for guidance in the film's tone and characters.[3] Lulu Wilson worked closely with the filmmakers to soften the edges of Becky. Having two year passed between films, Wilson hoped to see a more mature iteration of the character.[4] Inspired by films like Kick-Ass and the filmography of Edgar Wright, the filmmakers adopted a more comedic tone for the sequel. The duo worked to toe the line between the "comic book levity" elements and the "apparant" dangerousness of the film's threats.[5][6] In June 2022, the film was officially announced under the title Becky 2: The Wrath of Becky. Seann William Scott was revealed to be playing the film's villain, as well as serving as an executive producer alongside Wilson. Nick Morris, co-writer on the first film, and directing pair Jonathan Milot and Cary Murnion were also on board as executive producers.[7]
Filming
Production took place in secret in New Jersey, spanning 18 days.[8][9] Additional filming occurred in the town of Scotch Plains in early June.[10] Angel and Coote, as well as their cinematographer Julia Swain, decided to drop the hand-held methods of filming utilized in the previous film and instead use slicker camera movements and steadicam.[11]
Release
The Wrath of Becky debuted at the South by Southwest film festival on March 11, 2023.[12] Currently undated, the film will be released by Quiver Distribution. The film was previously expected to release in early 2023.[13]
Reception
Meagan Navarro of Bloody Disgusting praised the comedic shift in tone and Wilson's performance, calling the film an "irreverently delightful time".[14] For RogerEbert.com, Brian Tallerico found the film to be an improvement over it's predecessor, writing "Angel & Coote know how to pace and deliver this kind of gut punch of a movie."[15] Anton Bitel of Little White Lies called the The Wrath of Becky "bloody satisfaction" while critiquing the film as "filler" for another sequel.[16] Matt Donato, writing for Slashfilm, said the film is "a fun-filled slaughter-fest, even considering the lulls before Becky unleashes her fury."[17]
Kate Erbland of IndieWire said " Kills are gruesome and clever, Wilson is a wonder, the bad guys all deserve what’s coming, and it all feels undercooked."[18]
References
- "SXSW Schedule - The Wrath of Becky". South by Southwest. March 11, 2023. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
- Treese, Tyler (March 11, 2023). "The Wrath of Becky Cast & Directors Talk SXSW Premiere". Coming Soon. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
- Hullender, Tatiana (March 27, 2023). "The Wrath of Becky Team Talks Team Work and Bloody Good Fun". Screen Rant. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
- Navarro, Meagan (March 16, 2023). "The Wrath of Becky Directors and Star Lulu Wilson Explain How Edgar Wright Inspired the Sequel [SXSW Interview]". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
- Wixson, Heather (March 13, 2023). "SXSW 2023 Interview: Daily Dead Chats with the Cast and Crew from The Wrath of Becky". Daily Dead. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
- Gingold, Michael (March 10, 2023). "Exclusive Comments: Lulu Wilson and the Directors on the SXSW Premiere The Wrath of Becky". Rue Morgue. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
- Grobar, Matt (June 8, 2022). "Lulu Wilson To Return For Quiver's Sequel Becky 2: The Wrath Of Becky; Seann William Scott Also Set". Deadline. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
- Hamman, Cody (June 8, 2022). "Becky 2: The Wrath of Becky: Lulu Wilson returns for sequel, joined by Seann William Scott". JoBlo. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
- Sean, Sadie (March 16, 2023). "SXSW 2023 - Creating Escapism and Making a Statement with Satire: A Conversation with The Wrath of Becky Filmmakers Matt Angel and Suzanne Coote and Star Lulu Wilson". Script Magazine. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
- Samuels, Remy (June 6, 2022). "Grab Some Popcorn, A Movie Is Being Filmed At This Scotch Plains Diner". Patch. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
- McAndrews, Mary (March 21, 2023). "The Wrath of Becky Cinematographer and Production Designer Discuss Creating The Look Of The New Revenge Thriller [SXSW 2023 Interview]". Dread Central. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
- Miska, Brad (January 11, 2023). "SXSW – Evil Dead Rise, The Wrath of Becky, & Late Night With the Devil to Premiere! [Images]". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
- Mendelsohn, Jon (June 9, 2022). "Becky 2 Wraps Filming With Seann William Scott and Lulu Wilson". Collider. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
- Navarro, Meagan (March 12, 2023). "The Wrath of Becky SXSW Review – Bigger, Bloodier Sequel Embraces the Silliness". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
- Tallerico, Brian (March 16, 2023). "SXSW 2023: Only the Good Survive, The Wrath of Becky, It Lives Inside". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
- Bitel, Anton (March 14, 2023). "Midnight in Austin: Four World Premieres at SXSW 2023". Little White Lies. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
- Donato, Matt (March 13, 2023). "The Wrath Of Becky Review: A Reverse Slasher Comic Book Panel Massacre [SXSW 2023]". /Film. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
- Erbland, Kate (March 12, 2023). "The Wrath of Becky Review: Righteously Angry Teen Returns to Take Out More Fascists". IndieWire. Retrieved April 3, 2023.