Review: Wicked Little Letters

When Edith (Olivia Colman), a secluded woman, and other residents in a quaint and quiet town in 1920s Britain receive abusive and vulgar letters, they are quick to blame the boisterous, foul-mouthed Rose (Jessie Buckley) and charge her with the crime. However, the town’s female police officer, Gladys (Anjana Vasan), suspects that there may be a different culprit to blame.

In the beginning, you wonder who is writing these letters, and by the middle, you are on the edge of your seat, waiting for that person to be revealed and wondering how the townspeople will react. The investigation is thoroughly entertaining as Gladys teams up with a few friends to find the culprit. These are some of the most entertaining scenes in the film. Jessie Buckley is electric on the screen and commands your attention. And while they don’t have many scenes together, Buckley and Olivia Colman have great chemistry. You believe these women were once friends, and you can also feel the jealousy radiating off of Colman because of the free life Rose lives.

The film has a great pace that never lags. The script is quick-witted and beautifully performed by all of the actors involved. It’s also lovely to look at, with beautiful lighting and creative camera shots that bring the viewer into this little town scorned by vulgar words.

Wicked Little Letters is an enjoyable film from start to finish, with a deeper meaning hidden from the surface. This film perfectly depicts how women are constantly undermined and made to feel inferior, especially in that time period. Gladys, the police officer, is constantly held back by men and is even punished for pursuing the investigation. Women, in general, are told to make themselves smaller and fit in the boxes society creates for them. When that box gets too tight, they fight back in a way that is not deemed acceptable. Through the vulgar letters, is how one is able to feel her freedom. The women who never make themselves smaller, like Rose, are seen as a nuisance and often get the blame when things go awry.

This is a fun film that keeps you hooked from start to finish. The performances are fantastic, and the script is thoroughly entertaining. Also, knowing this is based on a true story just adds to that entertainment value. This is one movie you won’t regret putting on.