Picturehouse Blog

That's the captivating premise at the heart of Wicker, the hilariously offbeat comedy based on the short story The Wicker Husband, by Ursula Wills-Jones. 

Oscar winner Olivia Colman stars as The Fisherwoman, who lives alone in a small village by the sea and is mocked by her fellow villagers for her spinster status and unfortunate stinky smell. One day, she becomes tired of the ridicule and goes to The Basketmaker (Peter Dinklage) to commission herself a husband made from wicker. The result, played by Alexander Skarsgård, becomes the talk of the town, and this unconventional union sparks outrage, jealousy and chaos

An engaging premise is woven into an eccentric historical fable, with the deadpan, offbeat comedy bringing to mind the work of Yorgos Lanthimos. Lanthimos of course directed Colman's award-winning turn in The Favourite. This cast of colourful characters brings the village to life and we meet a community filled with gossip and secret desires. It's a poignant story of finding love, as The Wicker Husband transforms The Fisherwoman's life after years of being isolated. Through their differences they find a bond and the villagers are forced to look at their own shortcomings in this wild but ultimately uplifting romance. 

After two decades on the big screen, there are few roles Colman hasn't made memorable but she is never better than when playing characters that are right out of left field. From the tantrums of Queen Anne in The Favourite to the mysterious lead of The Lost Daughter, she shines when playing people who are not what you would expect. As The Fisherwoman, she is precisely what you wouldn't expect for a romantic lead, yet beneath the eccentricities (and the smell) she reveals a person worthy of love. She enjoys a wonderful connection with Skarsgård, who shone in another unconventional romance in last year's Pillion. It's unlikely you'll have ever seen him like this. His intricately woven body suit is standout, created by Joe Dunckley and WETA Workshop, and his role will spark as much talk among moviegoers as it does among the villagers. 

Throw in a talented supporting cast that includes the always excellent Peter Dinklage, Elizabeth Debicki and Richard E. Grant, and Wicker is an original take on romance that entertains by breaking all the rules.

Victoria Luxford

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Wicker is in cinemas from 30 October — Book Now!