Life has been rough on Becky (Lulu Wilson) for the past few years. After losing her mother to cancer, she does what many kids in similar situations do: She blames her father (Joel McHale) for her mother’s death and begins shutting out the world. One day, her father checks her out from school, and—despite her best efforts—she is excited to learn they are going to stay at the family vacation home her mother loved so much.
Her joy turns to ash when she realizes it’s a trick to make her bond with her father’s new girlfriend (Amanda Brugel) and her son, Ty (Isaiah Rockcliffe). Simultaneously, a group of Aryan Brotherhood felons orchestrates a well-planned escape attempt from a nearby penitentiary. Led by the dominating Dominick (Kevin James), the small group of escaped convicts hijacks and kills their way toward Becky’s family summer home.
Fans and critics are quick to compare this unique ‘reverse-slasher’ flick with primarily comic films such as Home Alone. However, I think more comparisons should be drawn with Die Hard: alone and unprepared, faced with a crisis of epic proportions, Becky must do what she can to save her family with nothing but some school supplies and a walkie-talkie to aid her.
Becky is thrilling and brutal, just what slasher fans are looking for. The cast is surprisingly star-studded, and those who enjoy Kevin James’ more family-friendly roles will have a great time watching him play perhaps the most chilling Neo-Nazi character I’ve ever seen.
Excellent camerawork and performances by the supporting cast make this a must-watch for anyone interested in slasher films or thrillers. Becky packs many punches, combining the best elements of several genres to create one of the best flicks of 2020. If your patrons like this, keep an eye out for Wrath of Becky, the sequel that premiered at SXSW in March. Highly Recommended.
Where does this title belong on public library shelves?
Becky belongs alongside other new slasher films, but it would also fit among the grittier thrillers (such as Fargo or No Country for Old Men).
What type of film series could this title fit in?
Becky would be an excellent headliner in a series exploring teen actors and characters in horror.