Wicker
review by Drusilla Blakey
Throughout time love stories have taken on many directions from horror to straight up romance. It’s always interesting when a unique twist is infused into the idea of setting it apart in ways that may or may not work. The latest, Wicker starring Olivia Colman, Alexander Skarsgård, Elizabeth Debicki, and Peter Dinklage from Save Yourselves! writer/director’s Alex Huston Fischer & Eleanor Wilson.
Set in a conservative, medieval coastal village, Wicker presents a captivating and delightfully odd love story about loneliness, jealousy, and the unexpected places we find connections. The film follows an ostracized, frequently ridiculed fisherwoman who, desperate for warmth in a cold world, commissions a local Basketmaker to weave her a husband out of wicker.
The Fisherwoman is played by Olivia Colman, who continues to prove her extraordinary range as an actor. Having brilliantly portrayed royalty in The Crown, she completely transforms here into a weather-beaten, outcast fisherwoman. Colman takes this downtrodden character and makes it entirely her own. You truly feel the deep pain of her isolation and the stinging rejection dealt by her fellow villagers.
Alexander Skarsgård delivers an incredible, physically subtle performance as the Wicker Man, quite literally bringing a woven creation to life. He manages to infuse the character with genuine emotion, tenderness, and soul. Strikingly, Skarsgård’s character presents a stark contrast to the human villagers. Despite being made of twigs and reeds, he feels far more human, empathetic, and alive than the cold community around them.
The story serves as a poignant reminder that love doesn't follow rigid rules.
Sometimes, a complete outsider is necessary to help us realize our worth and see what has been missing in our lives all along. The film highlights how the people who have known us the longest often fail to recognize how special we truly are, trapped by their own prejudices and preconceptions. A central irony of the narrative lies in the village's reaction. Despite having every opportunity to build genuine connection, the villagers become intensely envious of the fisherwoman’s bond with her wicker partner. In reality, their own relationships are revealed to be a total fraud built on societal expectations rather than actual love or affection.
The film offers a stunning, satisfying look at poetic justice. Driven by selfish greed and ambition, none of the villagers truly care for their partners; they only want to get ahead and don't care who they hurt along the way. In the end, their greed causes them to turn on each other, tearing the village apart and ensuring everyone gets their just deserts.
Wicker is a unique, heartwarming, and tragic exploration of human connection. Driven by compelling lead performances and a deeply resonant message, it shows that humanity isn't defined by blood or flesh, but by how deeply we choose to care for one another.
Decide for yourself and check out Wicker in theaters now from Black Bear.