Parents' Guide to Becky

This bloody, grisly thriller is, in some ways, well-crafted and entertaining, but it also neglects its characters and, more than once, crosses a line and goes a little too far. Co-directed by Jonathan Milott and Cary Murnion (Cooties, Bushwick), Becky is basically a Die Hard-type story in which one loose cannon disrupts a well-planned criminal effort. The movie manages the right pace to provide thrills and shocks. And it's definitely satisfying to see the lead character, with her big, blue eyes and fluffy puppy-dog hat, never hesitating as she fearlessly dispatches all of the villains.

But the movie also has faults, and those tend to leave a sour aftertaste. Becky leaves open a few too many questions about its characters, such as how long Becky's father waited to start dating and to think about marriage again. Also, who are the three toughs that go along with Dominik, and why do they follow his orders? Basically, the connections between characters are tenuous, and even Becky -- who's constantly angry at her father -- seems disconnected from everyone but her dog. Finally, death is treated a little too casually. The lives of major characters -- and even animals -- are ended without much fanfare, and it feels like this movie sometimes goes past entertainment and to the edge of cruelty.