A joke among fans about whether Wicker would ever play in 4DX became a real event when distributor Black Bear presented the fantasy romance in the motion-enhanced format on Oct. 28. Demand was strong enough for theaters to extend screenings through Nov. 5, turning an unusual cinema outing into a lively group experience for audiences who spoke to Rolling Stone.
Based on Ursula Wills-Jones’ short story The Wicker Husband, the film follows a fisherwoman, played by Olivia Colman, who persuades a basket weaver, played by Peter Dinklage, to make her a husband from wicker, portrayed by Alexander Skarsgård. Its scenes of the couple’s unconventional marriage, including a bed-breaking consummation, helped fuel online interest in seeing the film with 4DX effects.
For some viewers, getting a ticket was difficult. New Yorker Robert Belpasso said screenings sold out while he was trying to complete his purchase. Leen Dweik and her friends were prepared to travel from New York City to suburban New Rochelle before seats became available at a Times Square theater. Dweik had never tried 4DX, but said the audience’s enthusiasm made the screening feel like a shared occasion.
The format’s movements and effects also caught some attendees off guard. Tia Burkett, who gathered friends to see the film in Kansas, said the seat movement during a sex scene felt like a roller coaster and made the group laugh. Other fans came with questions about the film’s wicker anatomy and whether its U.S. version would show full-frontal nudity, turning speculation into part of the night’s entertainment.
The film’s unusual premise and suggestive marketing helped attract attention, but viewers also pointed to its themes. Gracie D., a fan of romances involving sentient objects, described Wicker as silly without taking itself entirely seriously. She also praised its interest in women seeking respect and agency in relationships. Dweik said she valued the film’s exploration of romance between a woman and an “other.”
4DX screenings are more commonly associated with action films, where movement and effects accompany chases and stunts. Wicker’s theatrical performance has been modest by comparison, with the film earning $13 million worldwide against a reported $10 million production budget. Its enthusiastic online following and extended 4DX run, however, suggest that audiences were drawn not only by the format’s novelty, but also by the film’s offbeat approach to romance.
Sources: Rolling Stone.