Love comes in all shapes, sizes, and apparently… woven willow.
If you went into Wicker expecting a standard romantic fable, you were likely caught completely off guard. It’s strange, wildly unconventional, and easily one of the most surprising cinematic experiences of the year. In a festival circuit and theatrical lineup often dominated by safe bets, Wicker arrives like a breath of fresh, albeit salty, sea air—proving that true original storytelling is alive and thriving.
A Story Like Nothing Else
Directed by Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson, Wicker follows a ridiculed, outcast fisherwoman who, fed up with her stuffy seaside village, commissions the local basketmaker to weave her a husband out of wicker. What starts as a desperate act of spite transforms into a bizarre, hilarious, and strangely heartwarming romance that throws her conservative town into absolute chaos.
It is witty, peculiar, and honestly brilliant.
“Love comes in all shapes, sizes, and apparently… woven willow.
What makes Wicker work so well isn’t just the eccentric premise—it’s the execution. The film strikes a delicate balance between dark, ribald comedy and genuine tenderness. The performances feel refreshingly unique, breathing vibrant life into characters that could have easily felt like caricatures in lesser hands. Watching this absurdity play out on screen with such charm and uninhibited commitment makes it impossible not to root for them.
Locking In a Spot on the Top 10
There is still a massive stack of movies left on the slate for the rest of the year, but Wicker didn’t just join the conversation—it immediately carved out a spot in the Top 10 of 2026.
It serves as a stark reminder of why we go to the movies in the first place: to be surprised, to laugh at the unexpected, and to see a story handled with zero fear of being weird.
Looking Ahead: What Else is on the Slate?
With Wicker setting the bar high, the rest of the upcoming movie docket has some serious work to do. But looking at what’s still around the corner, cinema lovers have plenty to look forward to:
- Hope: Na Hong-jin’s mysterious and heavily anticipated sci-fi thriller is easily one of the most hyped titles remaining. If it delivers half the tension it promises, it’s going to be massive.
- Street Fighter: High-octane nostalgia and pure martial-arts spectacle. Expect heavy hits, iconic characters, and blockbusters-style fun.
- Zorro: Bringing classic swashbuckling adventure back into the modern spotlight.
- Below: A gripping, atmospheric ride that looks set to keep audiences firmly on the edge of their seats.
Whether these upcoming releases can match the sheer, eccentric magic of Wicker remains to be seen. But one thing is for sure 2026 is turning out to be an incredible year for film, and taking a chance on the weird ones is paying off big time.
