What to Expect From Wicker, and Why ‘Freakmance’ Is All the Rage Now
When push comes to shove, we’re all just little freaks. And Wicker proves it.
Ever since the trailer for the quirky romance movie dropped last week, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. And neither has the rest of the internet. The surprisingly-racy moral fable has everything you could want from a movie, from Oscar winner Olivia Colman to Golden Globe winner Peter Dinklage. And, based on the trailer, Alexander Skarsgård’s wicker basket nipples.
Ursula Wills-Jones’ short story, 'The Wicker Husband', is the basis of this film — which, in the past, has also been adapted into a folk musical. If, like me, the frankly insane trailer sparked something in you, have no fear — while I can’t conjure up a wicker spouse of your own, I can, at least, pull together this article to tell you everything you need to know about Wicker.
What Is Wicker About?
The movie takes place in a small seaside village which, ironically, is about as rigid as a wicker basket in terms of its values. The Fishmonger, played by Colman, is an outcast in the town on account of her spinsterhood and unfortunate fishy odour.
Often the subject of ridicule, she seems to reach her breaking point and asks a local basket weaver (Dinklage) to weave her a husband. He in turn goes above and beyond. Not only is the husband (played by Skarsgård) sentient — he’s also kind of hot.
It’s not entirely clear how exactly this supernatural event happened, but that’s not the point. The point is, the Fishmonger has a whale of a time with her devoted wicker beefcake, which seems to spark curiosity, jealousy, and a whole lot of discord among the small-minded village folk. It sounds incredibly chaotic, and I’m totally here for it.
Who Is In The Movie?
As previously mentioned, Colman and Skarsgård play the husband and wife, while Dinklage also has a prominent role as the Basket-Weaver, i.e. who made this quirky creation in the first place.
Rounding out the main cast are Marli Siu as the Basket-Weaver’s sister, Nabhaan Rizwan as the Tailor, Elizabeth Debicki as the Tailor’s Wife, Richard E. Grant as the village doctor, Ben Ashenden as the Baker, and Ella Bruccoleri as the Bakerwoman.
Wicker Release Date
The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival at the start of this year. Black Bear bought distribution rights for the film. While lucky Americans will get to see the film on October 23, the UK will have to wait a week before it comes to theatres on October 30. This is one film you’d definitely want to watch on the big screen.
Why Are We So Obsessed With ‘Freakmance’?
While a film like this might seem a little… random, I would argue that it actually makes sense.
Women falling in love with monsters or ‘freaks’ have always been a part of film — just look at Beauty and the Beast, or, if you’re extra freaky, The Shape of Water.
The genre has more recently taken on a life of its own thanks to BookTok, with viral authors pairing their leads with minotaurs, blue aliens, and a straight-up tentacled monster. These books really stretch the limits of what constitutes a love story, and honestly, Wicker is incredibly tame by comparison. Which, based on the trailer, is saying a lot.
