Sundance 2026: Wicker Man Alexander Skarsgard in Terrific ‘Wicker’
by Alex Billington
January 31, 2026
This is a story of a man made of wicker. And the disruption he inadvertently causes when he turns out to be the most charming gentleman in the village. Every year the iconic Sundance Film Festival there’s a couple of extremely bizarre, especially peculiar, innovative cinematic creations that are almost too weird to work. Last year there was a very not-so-good, extremely weird film about cabbage (and it being banned) called Bubble & Squeak. The extra kooky Sundance 2026 film that everyone is talking about is called Wicker – and this is a good one. It’s the second feature film from talented filmmakers Alex Huston Fischer & Eleanor Wilson, the same duo that made their feature directorial debut with the peculiar sci-fi comedy Save Yourselves! at Sundance 2020. This time they have given us a fable about marriage and jealousy and gossip and intimacy in a medieval town. It’s especially watchable, laugh-out-loud funny at times, and impressive in many unique ways. These kind of weird stories can work well when they’re handled by some of the smartest filmmakers.
Wicker is both written and directed by the duo Alex Huston Fischer & Eleanor Wilson as their second feature film. It’s adapted from a short story titled “The Wicker Husband” by Ursula Wills-Jones. A “magical story of love, redemption and revenge.” The film is set in a mythical medieval village. Olivia Colman stars as the “Fisherwoman”, a fish seller who stinks and all the townspeople make fun of all the time. One day she asks the local basket weaver, played perfectly by Peter Dinklage, to weave her a wicker husband because she’s lonely and no one wants to marry her. His creation is delivered in one month. At her doorstep appears Alexander Skarsgård as the Wicker Husband. There’s a hilarious joke at one point about how he’s not “f&*kable furniture!” He’s a real man with feelings and desires, too. But he’s made to love the Fisherwoman. And love her he does, oh my goodness. At first his appearance seems odd, but instead it’s actually about how this wholesome, caring man turns out to be the envy of all the other (married) women in town. He’s perfect. And they don’t like that, of course, because their husbands are assholes. And this causes quite a stir. We watch the village slowly fall apart and descend into madness as they become jealous of the Wicker Husband.
Following in the footsteps of other great relationship films like I’m Your Man & Ruby Sparks (and even Her as well), Wicker is another super creative, smartly clever fable about “making” your perfect partner and how this causes chaos. The most impressive part of the film is the Wicker Man himself – Skarsgård’s performance and his make-up is astonishing. Seriously award-winning work – it deserves accolades (why they’re keeping the reveal hidden until you watch the film). It’s exceptionally realistic, almost too believable, with a number of jaw-dropping shots. His eyes come through but the rest of him actually looks like he’s really made from wicker (the same reed material used to make baskets). And his performance is understated, charming, and so warm & friendly that I’m sure many people will walk out of this wishing they could bring the Wicker Man home, too. But that’s the whole point, of course! I appreciate how much his presences messes everyone else. It ends up being a rather thoughtful film about how jealousy & infighting among neighbors is the real rotten part of society – her making the Wicker Husband is really not the problem. And it’s enjoyable from start to finish, wacky but entertaining & amusing in the right ways. A kooky Sundance 2026 gem worth seeking out.
Alex’s Sundance 2026 Rating: 8 out of 10
Follow Alex on Twitter – @firstshowing / Or Letterboxd – @firstshowing
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