6.4 | / 10 |
Users | 4.5 | |
Reviewer | 2.5 | |
Overall | 2.7 |
A teenager's weekend at a lake house with her father takes a turn for the worse when a group of convicts wreaks havoc on their lives.
Starring: Lulu Wilson, Kevin James, Joel McHale, Robert Maillet, Amanda BrugelThriller | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: Dolby Digital 5.1
English: Dolby Digital 2.0
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 2.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 0.5 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
“Becky” is being sold as the dramatic debut for comedian Kevin James. I’m not sure if that’s accurate, as I saw “Grown Ups 2” on opening night in a half-full auditorium, and nobody was laughing. But who am I to get in the way of marketing? The great news is that James tries to be steely and humorless here, and he does a fantastic job playing a menacing character. Even better, “Becky” is an absolute blood-drenched joyride of a film; a revenge picture that’s lean, mean, and unexpectedly interested in the bodily harm a 13-year-old kid can inflict on the Nazi goons looking to destroy everything she holds dear. Directors Jonathan Milott and Cary Murnion don’t pull any punches with their endeavor, offering a nightmarishly graphic descent into feral outbreaks of grief, going wild with B-movie bedlam from an unlikely source of rage.
It appears nobody really paid attention to the release of "Becky," with the AVC encoded image (2.39:1 aspect ratio) presentation squeezing the 93- minute-long feature into a 12GB file. Artifacting is a common sight throughout the viewing experience, with banding detected and blockiness. Detail is acceptable with the HD-shot feature, which does okay with skin particulars, picking up on hairs and open wounds, and decorative additions, including the art-laden walls of Becky's room and fort. Costuming is passably fibrous, with textured kitted wear and flannels. Colors are periodically lively (end credit art pops), but this is a darker feature with a good portion of the action set at night. Golden flames have presence, along with clothing choices, including the brighter hues in Becky's world. Delineation isn't ideal, with some solidification issues.
The 5.1 Dolby Digital sound mix is an acceptable listening event for "Becky," which often leads with a pounding electronic score. Low-end isn't quite as powerful as expected, but beats have presence and synth stings are sharp, also exploding into chaos at times. Dialogue exchanges are clear (even Maillet, who's known for his deep, accented voice), supporting actors and their emotional exchanges. Agonized screaming is balanced, never slipping into distortion. Surrounds aren't frenzied, but atmospherics are satisfactory, offering a sense of outdoor pursuit and indoor room tone. A few, brief panning effects are provided. Sound effects are distinct, selling gruesome, violent encounters with compelling emphasis.
Comparisons to "Home Alone" are obvious, but "Becky" isn't that type of entertainment. It's grisly, proudly so, with Milott and Murnion getting rowdy with the adventure, not cutesy, and the writing offers some psychological shading with Apex, a hulking minion who can't deal with the death he's delivered for Dominick. There are a few extremes that dent the viewing experience, including a fascination with animal-based violence, and the synth score Nima Fakhrara is simply too much, overwhelming the movie instead of supporting it. However, the essentials of the endeavor are energizing, as Milott and Murnion are completely focused on the task at hand, constructing a thrillingly nasty piece of work without any narrative distractions or visual restraint. It's a blunt instrument, and for those in the mood for such a cinematic pummeling, the feature is eager to deliver.
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