Wicked Little Letters

Wicked Little Letters is a 2023 British black comedy mystery film directed by Thea Sharrock, written by Jonny Sweet, and starring Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Anjana Vasan, Joanna Scanlan, Gemma Jones, Malachi Kirby, Lolly Adefope, Eileen Atkins, and Timothy Spall. Based on a true scandal, it follows an investigation into the anonymous author of numerous crudely insulting letters sent to the residents of seaside town Littlehampton.
Wicked Little Letters premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on 9 September 2023, and was released in the United Kingdom by StudioCanal on 23 February 2024. It received positive reviews from critics.
== Plot ==
In 1920, during the suffragette movement in the United Kingdom, Edith Swan, a spinster and devout Christian in Littlehampton, becomes the target of hate mail - an issue of great distress to her, her controlling father Edward and gentle mother Victoria. Having endured nineteen such letters spilt with profanities, Edward seeks the assistance of the local constabulary, suspecting their neighbor, the haughty-yet-lone mother and Irish migrant Rose Gooding, as the sender. Highlighting Rose's infamous proclivity for swearing, Edith testifies that she and Rose initially shared a friendship regardless of their differences, which abruptly ended following an episode wherein Rose beat one of Edward's guests at his birthday party. This was followed by a visit from the local child protective services acting on a tip; believing Edith had called them, Rose ended the friendship.
Rose is arrested and - since she can't afford bail - is remanded ahead of her trial, set to take place in two-and-a-half months. She leaves her daughter Nancy in the care of Bill, her partner. Nonetheless, police officer Gladys Moss is skeptical, noticing differences between Rose's handwriting and that of the letters; however, her observations are dismissed by her misogynistic superior Chief Constable Spedding, who forbids her from interfering. Elsewhere, Rose meets Edith's friends, Ann, Mabel and Kate, for insight. Kate detests Rose, but Ann and Mabel appear more sympathetic. Rose initially attempts to seek Gladys' help but is rebuffed; nonetheless, Ann and Mabel bail her. Immediately upon release, Edward and other Littlehampton residents confront her with similar letters. The case swiftly spirals into a national sensation, earning the attention of Westminster and the press; Gladys finally agrees to help Rose, noting the discrimination they both have faced.
Privately, Edith is revealed to be the actual sender, having orchestrated the affair to channel her repressed anger towards Edward's maltreatment; she writes another letter to herself, only for it to be intercepted by an unknowing Victoria, who dies from heartbreak. Whilst concluding the police formalities, Gladys notices similarities between Edith's signature and the letters; again, her claims are dismissed by Spedding, who suspends her from duty. Undeterred, Gladys enlists Ann, Mabel and Kate to privately investigate, albeit without Rose's involvement. Nevertheless, Edith evades Gladys and outsmarts her whilst posting another letter. On the eve of her trial, Rose finally discovers the ruse when she notices the distinctive form of the letter G on a sign that Edith had created is identical to that in the letters.
During the trial, Rose admits her infamy for her profuse vulgarities, noting she would have communicated them verbally rather then write the anonymous letters; her defense counsel also points to Edith’s handwriting, but is dismissed. The prosecution, however, corners Rose by revealing Nancy's true origins as an illegitimate child and not the daughter of a killed Great War soldier, as Rose had previously claimed. The revelation upsets both Nancy and Bill. Later, Edith confronts Edward over his control: he was the one who tipped off child services on Rose; he shuts her down. The next day, Gladys and the trio realize Edith would write a final letter, and thus have specific stamps dipped in specially-prepared invisible ink for Edith to use, which she falls for. Rose flees when Spedding attempts to arrest her prematurely. She corners Edith over her trickery, culminating in the two exchanging foul language; nonetheless, the letter is posted. Gladys had her niece intercept the letter, and demonstrate Edith's culpability by revealing the ink, resulting in her arrest and Rose’s exoneration.
Following the trial, the two women share a civil moment; Edith regrets the end of the friendship, explaining she meant no hurt. She manages a final, defiant moment against Edward by cursing at him publicly - much to his shock and Rose's glee. As Edith is taken away, a closing note reveals the fate of the characters: Edith was sentenced to twelve months' hard labor, Rose was never accused again and Gladys was commemorated for her actions.
== Cast ==
* Olivia Colman as Edith Swan
* Jessie Buckley as Rose Gooding
* Anjana Vasan as PC Gladys Moss
* Timothy Spall as Edward Swan
* Joanna Scanlan as Ann
* Gemma Jones as Victoria Swan
* Malachi Kirby as Bill
* Lolly Adefope as Kate
* Eileen Atkins as Mabel
* Hugh Skinner as Constable Papperwick
* Paul Chahidi as Chief Constable Spedding
* Alisha Weir as Nancy Gooding
* Jason Watkins as Mr. Treading
* Richard Goulding as Mr. Scales
* Tim Key as Father Ambrose
* Krishni Patel as Winnie Moss
== Production ==
The film was announced in May 2022, with Thea Sharrock set to direct, and Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley starring. In September, the cast was rounded out with Anjana Vasan, Timothy Spall, Gemma Jones and Eileen Atkins among the additions.
Production began in September 2022 and continued till early October in Arundel and Worthing, with some scenes filmed in and around the former Crown Court in Aylesbury. Ben Davis served as cinematographer. Principal photography took place on Stage 1 of Pinewood Studios.
== Release ==
The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on 9 September 2023.
In November 2023, Sony Pictures Classics acquired North American and Chinese distribution rights, after its sister company Stage 6 Films acquired international rights in various countries.
The film was released in cinemas in the United Kingdom on 23 February 2024.
== Reception ==
 
Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film three stars out of four and wrote, "The chief delight in Wicked Little Letters is watching Colman and Buckley in action; it's really not much of a mystery, as the culprit is revealed to us long before the townsfolk catch on."
The Telegraphs Robbie Collin awarded the film two stars out of five and summed up his review by stating "this British chocolate-box period comedy thinks that excessive swearing works as a substitute for a good plot – but it really doesn't."
== Gallery ==
== See also ==
*Le Corbeau (1943 film)
== External links ==
*
== References ==
Category:2023 films
Category:2023 black comedy films
Category:2020s British films
Category:2020s comedy mystery films
Category:2020s English-language films
Category:British black comedy films
Category:British comedy mystery films
Category:British films based on actual events
Category:Comedy films based on actual events
Category:Film4 Productions films
Category:Films directed by Thea Sharrock
Category:Films produced by Graham Broadbent
Category:Films scored by Isobel Waller-Bridge
Category:Films set in the 1920s
Category:Films set in Sussex
Category:Films shot at Pinewood Studios
Category:Films shot in West Sussex
Category:Mystery films based on actual events
Category:StudioCanal films