Who Knew Profanity Could Be This Entertaining? | Wicked Little Letters (2023) : Recap and Takeaways

My partner and I had just gotten home from a long day of running errands. Before calling it a night, we decided to watch a movie. Usually, choosing one takes us a while, especially when we haven’t talked about what we’re in the mood for.

That night, I was browsing trailers on Netflix when I stumbled upon Wicked Little Letters. The trailer immediately caught my attention, so I suggested we give it a try.

We grabbed some snacks, set up the laptop, and started the movie. Seeing Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley starring together already set my expectations pretty high.

Edith (Olivia Colman) is a devoted churchgoer who lives with her strict father and timid mother. She follows every rule her father sets. She’s the kind of person who quotes something religious for every situation.

Then comes her neighbor.

Rose (Jessie Buckley) moves in next door with her daughter Nancy. She’s a single mom and the complete opposite of Edith. Rose drinks and curses. She’s loud, carefree, and unapologetically herself.

I’m sure many of us know people like Edith: religious, rule-following, prim and proper. Very conservative and reserved.

We probably know people like Rose too: open, unfiltered, and free-spirited.

At first, Edith seems curious about Rose. Maybe even a little fascinated by her. They became friends for a short time.

Things quickly change when Edith starts receiving rude and offensive letters filled with insults and profanity. I didn’t expect to enjoy a movie with this much swearing 😆

Naturally, everyone assumes Rose is responsible.

After all, who else in the neighborhood speaks that way? Rose already has the reputation for being the loud and foul-mouthed one.

As more and more letters appear, the situation becomes bigger, messier, and more ridiculous 😆 The town becomes obsessed with figuring out who is behind these wicked little letters.

The letters themselves were actually hilarious! They were full of cuss words but some of the insults were so creative they sounded poetic. Whoever wrote them clearly had talent in being offensive.

If someone ever wrote me a letter like those in the movie, I'd probably be shocked and impressed by how poetic the insults are 😆

But the big question remains: Is Rose really the one behind the letters?

I have to say, Olivia Colman’s acting was incredible. I enjoy watching her in anything. Her expressions alone made some scenes soooo funny. She has this way of looking both shocked and offended at the same time, and it works perfectly for Edith’s character.

By the end of the movie, the truth comes out and justice is finally served after someone is wrongfully accused.

The part that surprised me was learning that the story is actually based on a true case! Of course, my first thought was: Did people really write letters like that back then? Apparently… yes!

The real letters were just as shocking and full of profanity. My reaction was literally:

I loved this movie! My attention span lately tends to wander when watching films but this one had me completely glued to the screen.

Aside from the comedy and mystery, the movie also touches on some themes that still feel relevant today.

Wicked Little Letters shows the pressure women faced in a very patriarchal and religious society. Back then, people are quick to judge women who didn't follow the so-called proper behavior. Women are expected to be quiet and obedient, just like Edith. Anyone like Rose was easily labeled as troublesome.

The movie used humor and mystery to show how social expectations can shape the way we see the truth.

People often assume that the quiet, conservative ones are automatically the “good” people, and the loud, foul-mouthed ones are usually the first to be blamed.

The movie reminds us that things aren’t always that simple. Sometimes the person everyone suspects isn’t actually guilty at all. Sometimes the truth comes from the last person you would expect.