Wicked Little Letters Reviews (original) (raw)

Summary A 1920s English seaside town bears witness to a farcical and occasionally sinister scandal in this riotous mystery comedy. Based on a stranger than fiction true story, Wicked Little Letters follows two neighbours: deeply conservative local Edith Swan (Olivia Colman) and rowdy Irish migrant Rose Gooding (Jessie Buckley). When Edith and fe...

My Score

Hover and click to give a rating Saved

Whether or not there’s a factual basis to the story, it’s undeniably an absolute blast.

Wicked Little Letters is for people who like British comedy, but also for people who think British comedies are too refined for their taste. This one isn’t. It’s crude and outrageous enough to appeal to modern American audiences.

A superb British period comedy that is a true story of a community & the scandle that made headline news back in the 1920's. Portrayed by great leads from Coleman & Buckley with fine support from Vasan & Spall. The profanities come thick & fast, especially from Jessie Buckley's character, Rose. But the humour they create is worth turning a deaf ear to. The strict household that controlling father, Timothy Spall runs with an iron first, makes the audience feel sorry for Coleman's stifled character Edith, whilst neighbour Buckley's humourously warm character Rose, absolutely gells the story. One definitely not to miss.

Just about everyone loves a good mystery, but, in the case of director Thea Sharrock’s latest, viewers are treated to one that’s both intriguing and utterly hilarious. Based on a true story, this delightfully offbeat offering tells the head-scratching tale of a small seaside community in 1920s England in which residents begin receiving anonymously sent letters filled with graphic profanity of a highly colorful and creative nature. The chief suspect is a recently arrived salty-tongued Irish immigrant (Jessie Buckley) who never hesitates to speak her mind or act out when she thinks it appropriate. The primary recipient is her neighbor, a cheery but conservative Christian woman (Olivia Colman), a prim and proper spinster who lives with her stern, judgmental father (Timothy Spall) and elderly, faint-of-heart mother (Gemma Jones). But is the accused really at fault? When a plucky, resourceful policewoman (Anjana Vasan) who’s supposed to stay out of the investigation gets involved, she uncovers evidence that circumstances may not be what they seem. The result is a sidesplitting thriller with loads of twists, turns and misdirections, a clever, original and outrageously waggish release that will tickle the funny bone of anyone who appreciates the wit and wisdom of good, old-fashioned, foul-mouthed cursing (sensitive viewers take note). The positively superb ensemble cast is outstanding across the board, particularly among the aforementioned principals, as well as a host of flamboyant supporting players. It’s obvious that everyone involved in this production had to have had fun making this film, and it shines through loud and clear in the finished product. There are a few sequences where the pacing drags slightly, but who cares? “Wicked Little Letters” is such a good time watch that you won’t really care. What’s perhaps most intriguing, though, is that this is a fact-based story – one that garnered national attention at the time – that had largely been lost to time but that, thankfully, has been brought back to life through this deliciously devious indie gem. Hell, yeah!

The movie is full of goofy side characters and one-liners, yet elevated occasionally to genuine complexity by Colman and Buckley, who are consistently the best thing about any movie they’re in.

Sadly, the film runs out of steam as it develops into a detective story with a solution that will surprise nobody.

There are many complaints to be made about “Wicked Little Letters” — its forced humor, its even more forced moral lessons, its tonal unevenness (flat-footed jokiness here, cheap sentimentality there) — but chief among them is wasting Buckley.

It may have been conceived as the kind of classy-but-ribald entertainment that might lure older moviegoers back to theaters. But insulting their intelligence probably isn’t the way to go.

There’s something equally impressive and depressing about the squandered potential of misfiring period comedy Wicked Little Letters, a joyless waste of cast, premise and setting.

This female empowerment film rails against the injustices of its time through a true story of women pushing back. Olivia Coleman and Jessie Buckley lead an excellent cast and pitch-perfect performances.

Engaging and interesting British comedy set in an era specific time of suppressed women and religious guilt, great performances.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

Not bad. Humorous. Focuses on hypocrisy, but with being jailed on a simple accusation the story teeters on incredulity. It was still fun and far above many other movies out these days. We'd rate it: "go ahead and watch unless you are offended by vulgarity."

As atrizes tirando leite de pedra pra tentar dar um acabamento mais convincente a uma história que é real, porém, o roteiro derrapa feio: mantém o olhar sério documental mas com um texto sempre muito acima do Tok, que navega entre a vergonha alheia e a comédia pastelão. Pra piorar, o plot é previsível e a graça. Ainda assim, sempre bom ver a Olívia Colman dando show.

Production Company StudioCanal, Film4, Blueprint Pictures, South of the River Pictures, People Person Pictures

Release Date Mar 29, 2024

Duration 1 h 40 m

Rating R

Tagline Be careful what you post.

Cleveland International Film Festival