News
REVIEW: ‘Becky’ is a Brutal & Bloody Home Invasion Thriller
When you think of young adult fare labeled horror, certain movies may come to mind such as Twilight or Goosebumps, but thankfully Becky isn’t for younger viewers even though the main character is one. Becky (Lulu Wilson), both the movie and the character, are ultra-violent entities that are capable of surprising the audience with just how bloody-thirsty they both really are.
It’s not that you haven’t seen all this before; a distraught teen in the midst of puberty struggles to control her emotions. But Becky’s are exacerbated because she has recently lost her mother to cancer and her father (Joel McHale) has proposed to another woman (Amanda Brugel). To celebrate the engagement he has brought all of them together for the weekend at their secluded vacation home situated in the woods.
As basic and derivative as the set-up might be, the film rises above itself thanks to the performances by its stars to become one of the best horror movies of the year. Fast-paced and brutal, Becky should satisfy genre devotees looking for action, unflinching gore, and gratifying kills.
As stated before Becky is struggling to move on after the death of her mother and is resentful that her father has seemingly already done so. This leads to angry exchanges between them once they reach their vacation home and when her dad’s new fiance shows up with her young son (Isaiah Rockcliffe), our miserable Becky takes one of their two large dogs and self-isolates inside her wooden fort located a small distance from the main cottage.
Meanwhile, a group of violent prisoners are in transit to another facility and orchestrate an escape from their transport vehicle in one of the more improbable aspects of the film. Their psycho leader, Dominick, played by Kevin James, is on the hunt for a key which is hidden—you guessed it—somewhere in the family’s vacation home. James, known more for his likable dorky sitcom characters, burns up the scenery working against type and if you didn’t get the message, he has a large swastika tattooed on the back of his bald head.
Once the gang invades the home and holds Becky’s family at gunpoint, she spies them from her fort and witnesses her other dog being shot. She springs into action unbeknownst to the criminals who have no idea she’s there.
What follows is a cat and mouse game reminiscent of Die Hard and Home Alone. Becky, like the former, is a blood bath. The teenager sets up traps, instigates their rage, and confronts them every chance she gets by way of a walkie talkie. This could have been a film fueled by that gimmick alone, but the actors don’t take the script for granted and directors Jonathan Milott and Cary Murnion keep the pace tighter than fishing line.
Although most people will be curious about Kevin James’ performance since this is his grand departure from comedy, this is Lulu Wilson’s movie.
Wilson, unlike James, is no stranger to horror. Although she usually goes up against supernatural foes as in Ouija: Origin of Evil and Annabelle: Creation, in a way, like James, she is also playing outside her zone. Fighting demons against a green screen or CGI is a lot different than going up against flesh and bone actors and practical special effects.
Whereas the kid in Home Alone set up a paint can to hit his pursuers in the face, Becky wants it to go through their skulls, don’t let this dragon slayer’s pretty blue eyes fool you. Wilson has it all under control as she goes from emotionally troubled to bellicose. Hollywood take notice.
As for James, even though he’s all beard and tattoos, he doesn’t feel as threatening as he should be. That honor goes to Robert Maillet as Apex, the unpredictable convict who towers over the rest of the cast.
There is one particular scene with James and a large brass key that will make squeamish people look away. James is brave to jump from comedy to horror and although the saying may be that comedy is the hardest medium, horror is no slouch. He is fine here as the villain but he never really rises above the trope enough to make him as truly terrifying as his dialogue hopes he will be.
Cinematographer Greta Zozula has got all the action under control and has so much confidence in the gory practical effects she lingers on them even in daylight. Music fans will also find plenty to love in Nima Fakhrara’s synth-pounding score.
With a movie like Becky you can’t help but point out the borrowed parts of better-known action films. But the cast and crew are of such great chemistry they have forged a movie that is greater than the sum of its parts. Bloody, relentless, and often surprising, viewers will most likely come away ironically praising its originality rather than its homage. And that’s quite a feat to pull off in this age of remakes, reboots and reimaginings.
Becky is On Demand and Digital and at select drive-ins on June 5, 2020
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Lists
New to Netflix (U.S.) This Month [May 2024]
Another month means fresh additions to Netflix. Although there aren’t many new horror titles this month, there are still some notable movies well worth your time. For instance, you can watch Karen Black try to land a 747 jet in Airport 1979, or Casper Van Dien kill giant insects in Paul Verhoeven’s bloody sci-fi opus Starship Troopers.
We are looking forward to the Jennifer Lopez sci-fi action movie Atlas. But let us know what you are going to watch. And if we have missed something, put it in the comments.
May 1:
Airport
A blizzard, a bomb, and a stowaway help create the perfect storm for the manager of a Midwestern airport and a pilot with a messy personal life.
Airport ’75
When a Boeing 747 loses its pilots in a midair collision, a member of the cabin crew must take control with radio help from a flight instructor.
Airport ’77
A luxury 747 packed with VIPs and priceless art goes down in the Bermuda Triangle after being hijacked by thieves — and time for a rescue is running out.
Jumanji
Two siblings discover an enchanted board game that opens a door to a magical world — and unwittingly release a man who’s been trapped inside for years.
Hellboy
A half-demon paranormal investigator questions his defense of humans when a dismembered sorceress rejoins the living to wreak brutal vengeance.
Starship Troopers
When fire-spitting, brain-sucking bugs attack Earth and obliterate Buenos Aires, an infantry unit heads to the aliens’ planet for a showdown.
May 9
Bodkin
A ragtag crew of podcasters sets out to investigate mysterious disappearances from decades earlier in a charming Irish town with dark, dreadful secrets.
May 15
The Clovehitch Killer
A teenager’s picture-perfect family is torn apart when he uncovers unnerving evidence of a serial killer close to home.
May 16
Upgrade
After a violent mugging leaves him paralyzed, a man receives a computer chip implant that allows him to control his body — and get his revenge.
Monster
After being abducted and taken to a desolate house, a girl sets out to rescue her friend and escape from their malicious kidnapper.
May 24
Atlas
A brilliant counterterrorism analyst with a deep distrust of AI discovers it might be her only hope when a mission to capture a renegade robot goes awry.
Jurassic World: Chaos Theory
The Camp Cretaceous gang come together to unravel a mystery when they discover a global conspiracy that brings danger to dinosaurs — and to themselves.
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Movie Reviews
Panic Fest 2024 Review: ‘Never Hike Alone 2’
There are fewer icons more recognizable than the slasher. Freddy Krueger. Michael Myers. Victor Crowley. Notorious killers who always seem to come back for more no matter how many times they are slain or their franchises seemingly put to a final chapter or nightmare. And so it seems that even some legal disputes cannot stop one of the most memorable movie murderers of all: Jason Voorhees!
Following the events of the first Never Hike Alone, outdoorsman and YouTuber Kyle McLeod (Drew Leighty) has been hospitalized after his encounter with the long thought dead Jason Voorhees, saved by perhaps the hockey masked killer’s greatest adversary Tommy Jarvis (Thom Mathews) who now currently works as an EMT around Crystal Lake. Still haunted by Jason, Tommy Jarvis struggles to find a sense of stability and this latest encounter is pushing him to end the reign of Voorhees once and for all…
Never Hike Alone made a splash online as a well shot and thoughtful fan film continuation of the classic slasher franchise that was built up with the snowbound follow up Never Hike In The Snow and now climaxing with this direct sequel. It’s not only an incredible Friday The 13th love letter, but a well thought out and entertaining epilogue of sorts to the infamous ‘Tommy Jarvis Trilogy’ from within the franchise that encapsulated Friday The 13th Part IV: The Final Chapter, Friday The 13th Part V: A New Beginning, and Friday The 13th Part VI: Jason Lives. Even getting some of the original cast back as their characters to continue the tale! Thom Mathews being the most prominent as Tommy Jarvis, but with other series casting like Vincent Guastaferro returning as now Sheriff Rick Cologne and still having a bone to pick with Jarvis and the mess around Jason Voorhees. Even featuring some Friday The 13th alumni like Part III‘s Larry Zerner as the mayor of Crystal Lake!
On top of that, the movie delivers on kills and action. Taking turns that some of the previous fils never got the chance to deliver on. Most prominently, Jason Voorhees going on a rampage through Crystal Lake proper when he slices his way through a hospital! Creating a nice throughline of the mythology of Friday The 13th, Tommy Jarvis and the cast’s trauma, and Jason doing what he does best in the most cinematically gory ways possible.
The Never Hike Alone films from Womp Stomp Films and Vincente DiSanti are a testament to the fanbase of Friday The 13th and the still enduring popularity of those films and of Jason Voorhees. And while officially, no new movie in the franchise is on the horizon for the foreseeable future, at the very least there is some comfort knowing fans are willing to go to these lengths to fill the void.
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News
New Vampire Flick “Flesh of the Gods” Will Star Kristen Stewart and Oscar Isaac
80s nostalgia is still going strong in the horror community. As proof of this, Panos Cosmatos (Mandy) is developing a new 80s themed vampire film. However, unlike some of the other nostalgia bait films that have come out recently, Flesh of the Gods is packing some serious talent.
First, the film is written by the legendary Andrew Kevin Walker (Se7en). If that wasn’t enough, the film will star Oscar Isaac (Moon Knight) and Kristen Stewart (Underwater).
Variety gives us a glimpse into the story line, stating that: “Flesh of the Gods is set in glittering ’80s L.A., where married couple Raoul (Oscar Isaac) and Alex (Kristen Stewart) each evening descend from their luxury skyscraper condo and head into the city’s electric nighttime realm. When they cross paths with a mysterious and enigmatic figure known as Nameless and her hard-partying cabal, the pair are seduced into a glamorous, surrealistic world of hedonism, thrills and violence.”
Cosmatos offers his own opinion of the film. “Like Los Angeles itself, ‘Flesh of the Gods’ inhabits the liminal realm between fantasy and nightmare. Both propulsive and hypnotic, ‘Flesh’ will take you on a hot rod joy ride deep into the glittering heart of hell.”
Producer Adam McKay (Don’t Look Up) seems to also be excited about The Flesh of the Gods. “This director, this writer, these incredible actors, vampires, choice ’80s punk, style and attitude for miles… that’s the film we’re bringing you today. We think it’s wildly commercial and wildly artful. Our ambitions are to make a movie that ripples through popular culture, fashion, music and film. Can you tell how excited I am?”
Flesh of the Gods is set to begin filming later this year. It will launch at Cannes with WME Independent, CAA Media Finance, and XYZ Films. The Flesh of the Gods does not currently have a release date.
That’s all the information we have at this time. Make sure to check back here for more news and updates.
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