A new folk-horror romance film titled *Wicker* blends unsettling atmosphere with unexpected warmth, drawing inspiration from British author Ursula Wills’ 2006 story *The Wicker Husband*. The film, which channels the spirit of mystery writer Shirley Jackson, is set in a remote, medieval-style village reminiscent of rural England or central Europe. Here, archaic patriarchal customs such as placing metal collars on newlywed brides add to the eerie backdrop.
Olivia Colman stars as a solitary, downcast fisherwoman who lives in isolation and brings her modest catch to a local market. There, she faces ridicule and hostility from the insular villagers, including a dismissive doctor portrayed by Richard E Grant. A chief antagonist to Colman’s character is the sharp-tongued tailor’s wife, played by Elizabeth Debicki, who epitomizes the community’s narrow-minded cruelty.
Seeking an escape from loneliness, the fisherwoman commissions a wicker husband from a skilled artisan known as the Basketmaker, played with a dry wit by Peter Dinklage. The resulting creation, brought to life in a secret workshop, is a unique blend of the macabre and the tender—a life-sized wicker man embodied by Alexander Skarsgård. Despite his unconventional form, the character displays attentiveness, emotional sensitivity, and practical skills, providing a stark contrast to the toxic masculinity often found in the surrounding village.
The relationship between Colman’s fisherwoman and her wicker husband serves as the film’s emotional center, exploring themes of companionship and acceptance. Their unconventional domestic life fosters resentment among the other villagers, particularly the envious tailor’s wife, which builds toward a climax described as both unsettling and oddly amusing.
*Wicker* is scheduled for release in the United States on October 23, followed by the United Kingdom on October 30, and Australia on November 5. The film’s distinctive combination of folk-horror elements and romantic narrative offers a fresh take for audiences interested in genre blends that challenge conventional storytelling.