As I celebrate my fifth year as a film critic with Nashville’s Music City Film Critics Association and gear up for awards season, I'll share more film content here. Actually, all content will increase since I’ll be covering my annual gift guides as well. Today, however, my focus is on the new Black Bear Pictures film, Wicker, which has just hit theaters.
Wicker: In Theaters Now:
Thanks to Fandango and Black Bear Pictures for providing me with a screener link for review and awards consideration. All opinions are my own.
About The Making of Wicker:
Adapted by Alex Huston Fischer & Eleanor Wilson (Save Yourselves!) from Ursula Wills’ acclaimed short story “The Wicker Husband,” Wicker was brought to life through exceptional craftsmanship, including cinematography by Academy Award® winner Lol Crawley (The Brutalist).
Production design by Art Directors Guild Award winner Renátó Cseh (Poor Things), costumes by Tóth András Dániel and Attila Godena-Juhász, and a bold score by Anna Meredith (Eighth Grade).
Alexander Skarsgård’s title character was masterfully realized through a fully practical suit, created by Joe Dunckley and the acclaimed, Academy Award® winning design shop, Wētā Workshop (Avatar, The Lord of the Rings).
About Wicker:
Distributed by: Black Bear Pictures /Directed by: Alex Huston Fischer, Eleanor Wilson/Screenplay by: Ursula Wills / Produced by: Ed Sinclair, Tom Carver. Olivia Coleman and more /Run Time: 1 hour, 45 mins./Genre: Comedy/Romance /Rated: R for language, sexual content, brief full nudity.
Cast: Olivia Coleman, Alexander Skarsgård, Peter Dinklage, Elizabeth Debicki, Richard E. Grant, Marli Siu, Nabhaan Rizwan.
Film Synopsis:
"An audacious comedic fable about sex, marriage, and the absurdities of social convention, Wicker tells the wholly original love story of an ostracized fisherwoman (Olivia Colman) who commissions a husband to be made by the local basketmaker (Peter Dinklage).
When her wicker husband (Alexander Skarsgård) proves more spectacular than she ever imagined, his soulful spirit and unique prowess awaken something inside her, setting off a wave of jealousy, fascination, and upheaval that threatens the very fabric of village life. "
My Thoughts: Wicker Husband- Marriage Material?
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| Courtesy: Black Bear Pictures |
In a word, yes. The Wicker Man turns out to be a loving and devoted husband. So much so that the conservative villagers of the quaint, seaside town can’t seem to wrap their medieval minds around this partnership.
His very existence was brought about when the lonely fisherwoman had been ridiculed one too many times, so she asked the basket weaver to make her a husband. She paid for the service and waited, never suspecting how her life was going to change.
Don’t Be Prudish: See Wicker With an Open Mind:
If you don’t like well acted dark humor, a bit of raunchiness and tastefully done sex scenes, Wicker may not be for you, and I get it.
I’ll be the first to admit, I was going to pass on seeing this film because the general overview sounded far-fetched and I thought it wouldn’t be well received as a comedy/romance. I stand corrected! I laughed many times and can attest to the love in this film. And, I'm not alone. Since its release date of October 23, 2026, it’s got a 94% approval on Rotten Tomatoes.
The Takeaway:
In the end, Wicker is a love story. It’s quirky and dark and addresses real family and marital woes, like yearning, loneliness, jealousy and lust for what your neighbor has, or doesn’t have. Marriage can be a blissful union,or a cumbersome duty for some of the seaside villagers.
The scenery is beautiful, the acting is superb, the storylines believable. Yes, even though the husband is made of Wicker. And the ending? I think you’ll find it lives up to the hype.
Wicker is currently playing in theaters. Head to Black Bear Pictures to find showtimes near you. Stay tuned for more film reviews. You can catch up on my previous reviews with the Entertainment tab.
Please share in comments: Have you seen, or plan to see Wicker in theaters?
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