What is Wicked Little Letters based on?

If you’re looking for a new movie to watch, you might want to check out Wicked Little Letters, a black comedy mystery film that is based on a true scandal that rocked 1920s England. The film stars Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley as two neighbours in the seaside town of Littlehampton, who become entangled in a bizarre case of obscene letters that target Edith Swan (Colman) and others.

Rose Gooding (Buckley), a rowdy Irish migrant, is accused of being the author of the letters, which are full of hilarious profanities and insults. However, not everything is as it seems, and a group of women led by Police Officer Gladys Moss (Anjana Vasan) decide to investigate the mystery and find the real culprit.

Wicked Little Letters is directed by Thea Sharrock and written by Jonny Sweet, who based the script on a historical event known as the Littlehampton Libels. In 1922, a series of anonymous letters were sent to various residents of Littlehampton, causing a national sensation and a trial that lasted for months. The letters were written in a crude and vulgar language, often mocking the recipients’ appearance, sexuality, or social status. The case was never solved, and the identity of the letter-writer remains unknown to this day.

The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2023, where it received positive reviews from critics and audiences alike. The film was praised for its witty and sharp dialogue, its dark and absurd humour, and its stellar performances from the cast, especially Colman and Buckley. The film also explores themes such as class, gender, immigration, and justice, while offering a fresh and funny perspective on a forgotten piece of history.

Wicked Little Letters is scheduled to be released by StudioCanal in the United Kingdom on 23 February 2024. If you’re a fan of British comedy, mystery, or history, you won’t want to miss this wickedly entertaining film.