Movie Review: A Delightfully Subversive Romp in "Wicked Little Letters"

This movie, Wicked Little Letters, starring Olivia Coleman and Jesse Buckley, is absolutely hilarious. The film is a 2023 British black comedy/mystery, directed by Thea Sharrock and written by Jonny Sweet, set in 1920s small town England.

When a conservative spinster named Edith, played by Olivia Coleman, starts getting these really offensive letters, her brash, vulgar next door neighbor from Ireland, Rose played by Jessie Buckley, is accused. All of the performances are outstanding. This is Olivia Coleman at her best.

Courtesy Sony Pictures Classics

Olivia Coleman and Jesse Buckley star in this British comedy romp, based on a true story, set in a conservative 1920's England.

What follows is a bunch of hilarious nonsense as the town tries to figure out whether or not this person is guilty and if not who is. One hilarious character is Gladys the police woman of Indian descent, played by Anjana Vasan, who tries to convince her chauvinistic know-it-all male bosses that somebody else might be guilty.

There is a great twist in the middle and then the movie gets even funnier.

This film is loosely based on real events, and contains plenty of profanity, but it is used in such a funny way that it becomes part of the movie's charm.

There is an underlying thread throughout the movie about the importance of female friendships.

I highly recommend this. I give this 5 out of 5 stars.

Jennifer Nanek