Sometimes, it only takes a few seconds of a movie trailer to make people pause and pay attention. A unique character, a surprising love story, or a completely new idea can quickly get everyone online talking. And once viewers start sharing their opinions, their reactions can be just as entertaining as the movie.
This is the case with “Wicker”, a fantasy romantic comedy inspired by Ursula Wills-Jones’ short story “The Wicker Husband”. The movie tells the story of a lonely fisherwoman who asks a local basketmaker to make her a husband out of wicker. Viewers quickly become interested in the character, played by Alexander Skarsgård.
Now, people on social media are sharing exactly how they feel about this unusual leading man. From bold confessions to creative jokes, the internet has come up with reactions that are hard not to laugh at. Scroll down to find out more about Wicker and how people are reacting to its trailer.
Unconventional fictional characters can spark unexpected attraction and inspire some surprisingly bold reactions online
“Wicker”: The movie that has the internet talking
The first trailer for Wicker surprised viewers by showing Alexander Skarsgård as a man made completely out of wicker. In the film, Olivia Colman plays a lonely fisherwoman who asks a local basketmaker to make her a husband. This unusual romance quickly grabbed people's attention.
Making the Wicker Husband took a lot of skill. Wētā Workshop in New Zealand created a detailed costume and a prosthetic face that moved with Skarsgård's expressions. Skarsgård said he was nervous before seeing the final look, but Colman's excitement made him feel confident that the unique design worked.
The cast realized they were making an unusual film, but no one expected the trailer to get such a big reaction. Skarsgård said the response was unlike anything he had seen before. Colman praised the script for being original, and Elizabeth Debicki pointed out its deeper questions about marriage, gender roles, and women's freedom.
The Wicker Husband: The short story behind the unusual romance
Long before the movie caught people's attention, writer Ursula Wills came up with an unusual idea for a short story. On a trip to Cornwall in 2006, she found a group of wicker sculptures near an old watermill. One of them, a life-sized wicker man, made her wonder: who would want one as a husband?
That question later inspired The Wicker Husband, a short story published in 2008. The main character is a woman who feels left out and has trouble finding companionship. She goes to a basketmaker and asks him to make her a husband out of wicker. This unusual choice changes her life, but it also makes the villagers jealous.
The story found a new audience when Rhys Jennings and composer Darren Clark turned it into a stage musical. It opened at the Watermill Theatre in March 2020, but had to close after just four shows because of the pandemic. Years later, filmmakers adapted the story for the big screen, keeping the main idea but adding more romance and comedy.
Why people fall for monsters and fictional non-human characters
Unusual romantic partners have become popular in many stories, not just in Wicker. Tales of humans falling in love with monsters, aliens, dragons, or supernatural beings are attracting more fans. Movies like The Shape of Water, Warm Bodies, and Edward Scissorhands prove that these unique love stories can be deeply emotional.
These stories let audiences think about intimacy in new ways. Rather than sticking to typical ideas about heterosexual relationships, they show connections with characters who don’t fit into usual social roles. A monster or other non-human partner can offer a different kind of romance, giving viewers a chance to explore unusual desires through fiction.
Wicker brings something new to this trend. Its romantic lead is not just a supernatural being. He is created to be the main character’s perfect partner. This idea touches on today’s worries about loneliness, dating apps, and how hard it can be to find real companionship. The wicker husband gives a fantasy of constant affection without the usual problems of romance.
What makes the Wicker Husband such an appealing partner
Aside from how he looks, the Wicker Husband gives people something they often want in a relationship: a partner who listens, cares, and helps out without being told. Directors Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson say he puts his wife's happiness first, which makes him especially appealing.
His actions also show what the other husbands in the village lack. They argue, ignore their wives, and expect women to do all the housework. In contrast, the wicker man sees marriage as a team effort. He helps at home, notices what his wife needs, and is always kind without acting like it's a big deal.
This difference links the film's fantasy to the real frustrations people feel in relationships. The directors talk about how chores, mental load, and feeling unhappy are now common topics for couples. The Wicker Husband might not be real, but the traits that make him appealing match what many people hope for in a partner.
The internet cannot get enough of the Wicker Husband
As soon as the trailer showed the wicker-bodied romantic lead, social media users jumped in to share their thoughts. The character’s odd look and the film’s playful innuendo sparked a wave of funny, flirty reactions. People quickly turned this strange movie idea into a chance for some truly creative online jokes.
Comments range from playful fantasies to wild jokes about the character’s anatomy and what it would be like to date a man made of wicker. Some people focus on the film’s suggestive details, while others make clever puns about baskets, wood, and weaving. Their creativity pushes the movie’s odd premise even further.
These reactions are especially fun because people share thoughts they’d probably never say in person. The wicker husband gives everyone a strange fictional character to joke about, flirt with, and imagine. And with so many posts, it’s clear the internet isn’t done talking about him yet.
At the end of the day, Wicker proves that romance can come in some very unexpected forms. And one thing is certain: this wicker husband has made quite an impression on people.
What do you think about the Wicker Husband and these hilarious reactions? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!
Here's the movie trailer, in case you hand't seen it yet
Netizens turned their thoughts into a hilarious collection of cheeky jokes and hilarious comments
