The Wasteland Reviewer

Wicker (2026) Written Review

Are you ready for the hunky wicker man sex fable? Wicker has certainly garnered the attention of many people (especially women) when the trailer dropped and their announcements that Alexander Skarsgard would be portraying a large, muscular man made of wicker. Olivia Colman is the protagonist of this quirky fable as she portrays a fisher woman who is the oddball of her small village. Mocked for never finding a man motivates her to pay the local basket maker (Peter Dinklage) to make her a husband. This hunky, sensitive, loving, and supportive wicker husband causes chaos in this village when all the men begin to feel insecure. The way the residents of this town react to this new wicker man opens the door to plenty of drama and life lessons along the way. 

How does the directorial duo of Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson bring Ursula Wills short story to life on the big screen? This film leans heavily into the fable vibe that the story embraces. There are storybook elements with some title cards that make the audience feel like they are turning the pages of a classic fable. The music by Anna Meredith is strange, aethereal, and quirk that matches the bizarre atmosphere of the story. There is plenty of personality that Fischer and Wilson craft (building off their unique voice that began to craft with their earlier effort Save Yourselves!). This is not a long film and Fischer and Wilson are able to keep pace with some sharp montages and some strong energy. This is quite a confident cinematic expression which allows it to connect with the audience. This directorial duo balances the dark humor of the story well with the deeper emotional beats and the unnerving moments born out of the darker side of human nature. The visuals of the film are so warm while also being quite technically sound (with plenty of praise for cinematographer Lol Crawley). The key to making this film work is bringing this wicker character to life in a believable way and Wicker accomplishes that quite well. 

Does Wills’ short story translate well onto the big screen? For the most part, this is a truly sharp and clever screenplay by Fischer and Wilson. There are a few narrative threads that make the film feel a tad overstuffed (you can tell this is a short story stretched out to a feature at times). But when you assess all the character and thematic elements of Wicker, you quickly realize just how rich and deep this experience is. The core of the film is an isolated woman who finally finds love and connection when a sensitive and caring (wicker) man comes into her life. But she has her own flaws as she struggles with trust when her hunky (wicker) husband garners a lot of attention from other women in this town. But the big swing is the biting commentary on gender norms and politics. The presence of a good man causes so many issues because it leads to all the men in town lashing out instead of reflecting on their own behavior. The way the women react to his presence is quite compelling as well, including the powerful unofficial leader of the village (Elizabeth Debicki) who immediately moves to sabotage. The fable structure of the story is quite impressive as Fischer and Wilson understand how to translate this to a modern audience while delivering such a deeply satisfying finale that ties this story together perfectly. On top of that, this is a clever film that is quite hilarious and full of deep emotion as well. 

Where does the cast fit into this experience? You must start with Skarsgard because his presence is so powerful while delivering all his dialogue with a softer touch. This is such a wonderful performance that grounds this odd character with a surprising bit of humanity. Colman is one of the most talented actors working today and this performance delivers so much. This character has such a snarky sense of humor to start, and Colman sells this dirty and disheveled woman. But once her wicker husband enters her life, you can feel the glow of joy and radiance that Colman injects into her character. Colman balances an empathetic foundation with some clear flaws, and few actors can make such a flawed character connect so well. Dinklage is a fun supporting presence in the film as he brings plenty of charm. Witnessing Dinklage’s character monologuing about his art and impact works so well in the hands of such a talented performer. Debicki is the last big standout as she brings such an intensity and judgment to her character that channels the negative undercurrents of this whole community. Oh…a dash of Richard E. Grant is a welcomed addition as well. The rest of the cast are lesser known performers, but everyone feels so pitch perfect, which allows this village to feel so authentic and impactful. 

Does Wicker deliver upon its clever and creative concept? Fischer and Wilson are a wonderful duo behind the camera and the keyboard as they bring Wills story to life with such zeal and cleverness. Skarsgard delivers as the wicker husband, and this film is quite steamy in all the way you might hope (and might not know that you needed). Colman and the rest of the cast deliver such committed performances that bring so much life to the experience as well. Wicker is a sharp and clever fable that hits for sure.