Wicker – Movie Reviews by Ry!

Wicker – Weaving of Fantasy / Threading of Love

Of the rhythms that move us along, there is always a point where a note pulls us further into something magical.  A musical touch of sorts, life is an orchestra that weaves sounds that make us want to see, hear and feel the unique trails of the unknown.  It is these moments that tales are born, bringing about a way for the journey to feel real … especially in film.  In this review, I look at the latest fantasy film to hit the big screen.  From a foundation of simple life moments, we head down a path where love becomes something more.  Even when convenience come into play, Wicker is a wonderous tale into a twist of what it means to be in love … one thread at a time.

 An outcast to her village, one woman will break the norms of matrimony, leading down a journey that shows what it truly means to fall in love.  Upon the surface, every tale has a simple hook to reel you into its world.  From a revenge tale to the wholesome thought of growing up, every foundation is a cushion to jump from.  For fantasy, there is a wider range of that same foundation, providing a place where creativity and unique spins of the familiar can be delightful.  That is what you get with this film.  In the beginning, we come into this world through the drop-in method where we witness the day-to-day life of a village.  After a series of conversational moments and side character introductions (you can view the cast list at the film’s IMDb page – link) the focus turns to our main character, The Fisherwoman (Olivia Colman).  A typical ‘outcast’ type, her routine of bring the ‘catch of the day’ to the village is faced with something special happening in town, a marriage.  After some folly mishaps and convenient setups, she is picked (through the town’s traditions) as the next bride to be.  This leads through a series of events where the Fisherwoman asks the Basketmaker (Peter Dinklage) to create her a person to marry.  This leads to the creation of the Wicker Husband (Alexander Skarsgard), and a marriage that changes the course of their lives forever.  From here, the film moves away from its simple foundation, building up a thread of romance between a person and a man made of magical threads.  Through their relationship, they break the norms of the village, creating a deeper conversation that becomes a mirror through themes of love, personal worth and connections.  As their relationship blossoms, the rest of the town falls into emotional turmoil, creating a place where fantastical motifs are layered with humanized themes.  As certain desires bleed into the psyche of some characters, it creates unexpected situations of witty conversations, physical folic moments and a twist on the ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’ trope.  The odd fixation on the Wicker Husband is an unraveling on the predictability of the journey, creating an escape that becomes an ironic reflection of relativity.

As things start to go awry in the village, the auspicious nature of certain individuals leads to a chain reaction that turns envy into tragedy.  This allows the folklore elements to feel natural, creating a place where raw moments become a window into the fragile human psyche (of certain villagers).  As things start to come undone, we head into a third act of folly circumstances and revelations of personal desires.  This builds towards a full circle climax and epilogue.  Wicker is a fantasy tale that spins what it means to truly love.  If you are a fan of fantasy or romance tales, this is one for you.  In the end, I believe this can be a good time for anyone, worth the full price of admission.

Full Score – 4 out of 5 (Full Price)