Greetings again from the darkness. The husband and wife co-directing and co-writing team of Alex Huston-Fischer and Eleanor Wilson have delivered the pleasant surprise film of the year. It’s based on the 2008 short story, “The Wicker Husband”, written by Ursula Willis-Jones and it manages to be thoroughly entertaining while poking around into human psychology.
Oscar winner and actor-extraordinaire Olivia Colman stars as Fisherwoman. All folks in the village are known by their job or lot in life. No actual names are used. So, when I say Mrs. Tailor (Elizabeth Debicki, TENET, 2020) is the villain of the story, you immediately know what her husband does for a living. Fisherwoman, a disheveled and unkempt woman, not only lives a life of solitude, but she also is subjected to a relentless stream of cruel comments from those in the village. At the Bottlewasher’s wedding, a local custom involves not a bouquet, but rather shaken wicker eggs to determine the next bride-to-be. The magic egg rolls to Fisherwoman.
After absorbing the expected wisecracks and put-downs, she heads to the remote home of the mystical master Basketweaver (Peter Dinklage), and promptly orders ‘a husband’. One month later she is giddy at the altar as she and the Wicker Husband (Alexander Skarsgard) recite their vows. Wedding night exertions leave their bed in need of repair, and Wicker Husband simply asks for a hammer so that he may fix the bed … a task he performs numerous times.
Fisherwoman and Wicker Husband develop a bond, and the entire village takes note when they share a dance at the Butcher’s wedding (lots of weddings for a small village). Love and respect within a marriage are admirable and necessary traits, but what we soon witness is the opposite end of human traits: jealousy, distrust, feelings of inadequacy, and a desire for comeuppance. By simply asking the question, “Do you love your wife?”, the Wicker Husband establishes himself as a noble creature, and that’s more than others can bear.
The film presents as brilliant social satire in the form of a fable, replete with romance and villainy. Although it’s set in a long ago small rural village, we immediately recognize the personality types and signs of emotions (good and bad). The acting here is superb. Olivia Colman delivers yet another performance that somehow stuns us. Peter Dinklage goes ‘Shakespearian’ and shines while working alone in his workshop. Richard E Grant jolts us as the bumbling town doctor in his only scene, and Alexander Skarsgard is totally believable as the object of desire buried under a spectacular skin of wicker.
As if the acting and story aren’t impressive enough, the technical aspects are superb. The wicker sound effects are familiar and spot on, while Weta Workshop’s prosthetic designer Joe Dunckley and lead makeup effects artist Sarah Rubano knock it out of the park on the wicker suit(s) and effects. Production designer Renato Cseh delivers an authentic feel to the village, while Oscar winning cinematographer Lol Crawley’s (THE BRUTALIST, 2024) work has been accurately described as folk art. This is surely a strange movie, yet it’s one that will grow an audience.
The film opens in theaters beginning October 23, 2026
Posted by David Ferguson 
Greetings again from the darkness. So, what does one do with excess creative urges when one is a Julliard trained violist and a successful stand-up comedian? Well … how about writing, directing, and starring in a film filled with authenticity and familiar everyday struggles (even for those of us who aren’t classically trained). That’s exactly what Isabel Hagen has done, and the result is a gem of indie filmmaking. 
Greetings again from the darkness. There will likely be a very distinct line of demarcation between those who ‘dig’ DIGGER and those who don’t. Director Alejandro Inarritu, who won Oscars for THE REVENANT (2015) and BIRDMAN (THE UNEXPTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE, 2014) and a list of five esteemed writers (Sabina Berman, Jez Butterworth, Alexander Dinelaris, Nicolas Giacobone, Inarritu) seemingly crafted a film that looks amazing, while intentionally angering or annoying or confusing a big chunk of movie goers. Not only will those who prefer traditional storytelling be frustrated, the politics involved will surely irritate many (and drive some nasty comments).
Greetings again from the darkness. I guess we were due for a “Cold War Buddy Comedy”. And who better to deliver than co-directors John Francis Daley and Johnathan Goldstein, the team behind GAME NIGHT (2018) and DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: HONOR AMONG THIEVES (2023). This time out, they deliver excellent visuals to go along with stellar comedic chemistry between first class wisecracker Ryan Reynolds and expert straight man (and Oscar winner) Kenneth Branagh.
Greetings again from the darkness. For those of us who grew up belly-laughing at Looney Tunes, the characters are considered sacred ground, so a bit of anxiety hits when movies like SPACE JAM (1996) hit the big screen. This especially holds true for this latest from director Dave Green, since we know so many of the beloved characters will be on display. Samy Burch (MAY DECEMBER, 2023) adapted the screenplay from a 1990 article in “The New Yorker”, with an assist from James Gunn (SUPERMAN, 2025) and Jeremy Slater (FANTASTIC FOUR, 2015). The blend of animation and live action is reminiscent of the 1988 classic, WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT.
Greetings again from the darkness. “Break a leg.” The well-meaning phrase dates back many years as a way to avoid the dreaded ‘good luck’ for someone preparing to perform on stage. When high school sophomore Sophie explains this to her mother, the mom hugs her and offers how bad she would feel if her daughter actually broke her leg. Such is the love of a mother … this particular mother … in this heartfelt movie from director Julia Hart, who co-wrote the screenplay with her husband Jordan Horowitz and Laura Hankin. It’s based on Ms. Hankin’s own personal story.
Greetings again from the darkness. Olmo is like most fourteen-year-old boys. His visual fantasizing about the girl of his dreams requires nothing more than a toy car and a glimpse of her walking outside. Yet, Olmo is also different than most his age because he shares caregiving responsibilities for his disabled dad, who is stricken with Multiple Sclerosis. It’s been more than a decade since he last directed a feature film, and writer-director Fernando Eimbcke delivers one of his best. He and co-writer Vanesa Garnica also collaborated on this year’s FLIES, which is currently making the festival rounds (including Cannes).
Greetings again from the darkness. In 2004, we had a film based on dodgeball, so it only makes sense that the hottest game going these days, Pickleball, gets its shot on the big screen. Josh Greenbaum (WILL & HARPER, 2024) directs a screenplay from Sean Clements (“Workaholics”), and the result is a comedy in the realm of films like HAPPY GILMORE (1996), KICKING & SCREAMING (2005), and yes, DODGEBALL: A TRUE UNDERDOG STORY (2004). The film tries (too) hard to generate laughs, and its best moments seem to be in the sincere intergenerational bond between two otherwise mismatched characters.
Greetings again from the darkness. For those who are itching to re-live the glory days of 1984 high school, writer-director Michael Walker and co-writer Susan Gomes are here for you. The surprising part is that even for non-Gen X viewers, the film is so well crafted and acted, that it flows beautifully as a time capsule for the era. As if that’s not enough, it’s also based on a true story.
Greetings again from the darkness. As a huge fan of THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939), I admire the homage paid to the classic film by writer-director David Wain (WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER, 2001) and his co-writer Ken Marino, collaborators on ROLE MODELS (2008) and WANDERLUST (2012). In fact, there are long-term shared comedic genes noted throughout the list of cast, crew, and filmmakers here … with quite a few running through the “Reno 911!” franchise. If that’s not hint enough, I’ll repeat what I’ve written many times over the years: comedy tastes are quite diverse, and some will laugh heartily at this one, while others will be baffled as to what is so funny.
