In the darkly comedic fairy tale Wicker, Olivia Colman portrays an ostracized fisherwoman who commissions Peter Dinklage, a magically gifted basket-maker, to craft her a husband. The resulting Wicker Husband, brought to life by Alexander Skarsgård, is a stoic yet pliable figure, a force of nature in both intimacy and labor, and as towering and handsome as the tree from which he is formed. His presence garners envious gazes from the village women, making Skarsgård a fitting choice for the role.
Skarsgård, known for subverting his own traditionally handsome image, delivers a performance that is both a send-up and a genuine embodiment of his persona. Following his role in the 2025 romance Pillion, where he explored the emotional vulnerability of a leather-clad biker, Skarsgård in Wicker achieves a similar, yet more tender, portrayal. This is remarkable given the character's creation through a blend of practical and digital special effects.
A Village of Archetypes
Directed by Eleanor Wilson and Alex Huston Fischer, Wicker is set in a whimsical village that seems to exist in a period between the Middle Ages and the late Victorian era. The villagers, portrayed by a skilled ensemble of British comedic actors, speak in a mixture of bawdy jokes and formal aphorisms, characteristic of fairy tales. They are identified by their archetypal roles—Butcher, Doctor, Baker—rather than personal names. Colman's Fisherwoman is unique as the sole woman in the village who possesses her own title, unburdened by a husband.
Witnessing the village's oppressive marriage traditions, which include placing an iron collar on the bride, the Fisherwoman decides to send up the custom by creating her Wicker husband, or perhaps acting on a deeper, solitary impulse. Her decision yields unexpected results.
The villagers initially mock her unusual spouse, but they soon recognize his unwavering devotion to the Fisherwoman and his notable sexual prowess. This begins to fracture the village's social order, much to the dismay of the Tailor's Wife, played by Elizabeth Debicki, who serves as the village's authoritative arbiter of social norms.
Symbolic Creation and Performance
While the narrative follows a predictable trajectory of social satire, this simplicity serves the fable's symbolic aims. The Wicker Husband is a remarkable creation, merging intricate prosthetic makeup with digital effects from Weta. The visual design allows light to filter through his woven structure, making him appear both artificial and ethereal. Crucially, Skarsgård's gentle performance imbues the character with life, shining through the elaborate artistry.
Wicker embraces ribald humor and frequently aims for a punchline, with Skarsgård's casting being a deliberate part of the jest. However, he commits to the role with earnestness, portraying the Wicker Husband as a figure of purity and strength. His character exists as a rebuke to the village's stifling patriarchy and is designed to serve the woman he loves, rather than dominate.
Skarsgård's performance is characterized by a halting yet steadfast tenderness that disarms the Fisherwoman's defenses, then alleviates the village women's self-negation, and finally challenges the village men's established self-image. This disruption leads to a somber and poignant turn in the story before the Fisherwoman and the Wicker Husband, with the help of the Basketmaker, enact a darkly satisfying fairy tale revenge.
The film's feminist message is direct: a patriarchal system so deeply corrupts society that an authentic man cannot exist without being invented. While this may seem simplistic in the context of contemporary sexual politics, the film operates as an adult fairy tale, using its outlandish premise to reflect and critique societal norms. The just desserts for the audience, particularly for those deemed 'good ones,' might just be Alexander Skarsgård as a captivating wicker man.
