A Look at the MovieAlex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson directed “Wicker,” a funny romantic fantasy based on Ursula Wills-Jones’ short story “The Wicker Husband.” It debuted at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, where it got a standing ovation for its mix of strange humor, sharp social commentary, and honest look at marriage, desire, and village envy. In a magical fishing village, a lonely fisherwoman hires a reclusive basket weaver to make her the perfect wicker husband.
Olivia Colman plays the outcast fisherwoman, and she does a great job of showing her vulnerability as she deals with unexpected love and vulnerability with her woven partner, played by Alexander Skarsgård. Skarsgård’s kind, devoted wicker man—robotic yet attractive—changes the dynamics of the village, making husbands and wives jealous. Peter Dinklage is great as the basket weaver and Elizabeth Debicki is great as the prim tailor’s wife. The cast, which includes Richard E. Grant in a small role, fits in with the film’s playful, rhythmic tone.
Colman’s character wants revenge on the villagers, so he orders a perfect husband from Dinklage’s craftsman. This leads to Skarsgård’s perfect wife, who is great at intimacy and chores. This messes up the community by mixing risqué talks about fetishes and sex with naive beliefs in magic. It also criticizes adult insecurities and resistance to change. The moral of the story lasts a little too long, but the sweet chemistry between the misfits and the effects they have on the villagers, which range from funny to sad, keep it interesting.
“Wicker” a “quirky, winsome, and enjoyably tart fable” with beautiful cinematography by Lol Crowley and production design by Renátó Cseh. Reviewers have praised its adult-oriented humor, its understanding of flaws, and its ability to balance irreverence with empathy, making it a standout at Sundance.
