When I first heard of Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson’s movie in which they directed and wrote together, I thought it was a different take on The Wicker Man, simply titled Wicker, which in short is sort of true but more so it is based on Ursula Wills short story from 2008. Despite not being another tale of The Wicker Man, Wicker proves to be better than anticipated thanks in part to the wonderful heartfelt story that takes some sharp turns, fantastic direction, and truly wonderful performances. The only issue that really lays with the movie itself is unintended chemistry between two characters which slightly overshadows the overall message of the movie but nonetheless creates an exciting and titillating film for audiences to be enticed by.
Wicker focuses on a Fisherwoman (Olivia Colman) whose made out to be a pariah in her community simply because she’s a fisherwoman and doesn’t really connect with anyone else in town. While in the town square one day, trying to sell fish, she stands on the outskirts of a marriage ceremony with crafted eggs made by the Basket Weaver (Peter Dinklage) and the eggs shake, eventually explode with a colour – if the colour is purple you’re the next one to be wed. Unfortunately, two of the oddly selected children get into a fight about the eggs, and one rolls to the Fisherwoman’s feet and she is ultimately selected to be wed next. Initially just blowing it off and wanting to move past it, the townsfolk making her incredibly uncomfortable and unnecessarily rude comments from the Tailor’s Wife (Elizabeth Debicki) whose father is also the town’s doctor (Richard E Grant) she decides to take it upon herself to enlist the help of the Basket Weaver, and have him fashion her a husband, a Wicker Husband (Alexander Skarsgard). While his entire being is meant to be there and support the Fisherwoman, he does have free will and can make decisions himself – something not overtly explained other than stated, so we as an audience don’t fully comprehend how he is in existence but alas.
What happens with the townspeople though, is this person they regarded as less than them and beneath them is now having the time of their life. Happier beyond describable, meanwhile they’re all in their ruts they accepted and felt fine about because there was someone worse off, and they just cannot accept it anymore. They fantasize about the Wicker husband, they want their husbands to be better, and so forth and it all leads to the undoing of the Tailor’s Wife who’s the beacon of the community so to say, which brings everything to a climax, and truly sets off the events for the remainder of the film.
What works for Wicker is the performances from the entire cast, but especially that of Skarsgard. He is never seen as a human being, as he is created out of wicker. He never was someone and transposed into the Wicker Husband, he wasn’t then he existed. His ability to bring some cadence and softness to a roll without being able to express a single facial movement is impressive, but it’s all with his tone and soft voice. Then we have Olivia Colman who transforms overnight practically from this beaten down, tired, depressed Fisherwoman to this character who is full of joy and life and brightness. It’s even reflective in her movement (something The Wicker Husband) helps her with. But there is such a drastic change in her performance from pre Wicker Husband to Post Wicker Husband that is just infectious to the storytelling of the movie, sometimes we just need valued companionship. Alternatively Debicki is the polar opposite of Dinklage, as the former is hellbent on ensuring scrutiny and her clique keeping those not around her down and ensuring everyone follows her word while Dinklage just wants everyone to be happy and to maybe be seen as an equal in the community he lives on the outskirts of.
Overall, the story that Fischer and Wilson have adapted from Willis short carries heavy weight about society and romance with some strong directional choices that ground the movie fully. As well as incredible and fantastic as the cast are, the undeniable chemistry between Dinklage and Colman is simply too strong that the fact the movie doesn’t pivot to them is nearly a detriment, but the life that Skarsgard brings to a lifeless body is exquisite and helps electrify the movie to make it so much more than anticipated. Overall, Wicker is certainly going to delight and amaze audiences, even if the chemistry shared amongst the cast is misaligned.
