Wicked Little Letters

Wicked Little Letters is a 2023 British black comedy mystery film directed by Thea Sharrock, written by Jonny Sweet, and starring Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Anjana Vasan, Joanna Scanlan, Gemma Jones, Malachi Kirby, Lolly Adefope, Eileen Atkins, and Timothy Spall. Based on a true scandal, it follows an investigation into the anonymous author of numerous crudely insulting letters sent to the residents of seaside town Littlehampton.

Wicked Little Letters premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on 9 September 2023, and was released in the United Kingdom by StudioCanal on 23 February 2024. It received generally positive reviews from critics.

Plot
In 1920, during the suffragette movement in the UK, Edith Swan, a spinster and devout Christian in Littlehampton, becomes the target of hate mail - an issue of great distress to her, her controlling father Edward and gentle mother Victoria. Having endured 19 such letters spilt with profanities, Edward seeks the assistance of the local constabulary. They suspect their neighbor, the single mother and Irish migrant Rose Gooding, as the sender.

Highlighting Rose's infamous proclivity for swearing, Edith testifies that she and Rose initially shared a friendship regardless of their differences, which abruptly ended following an episode wherein Rose beat one of Edward's guests at his birthday party. This was followed by a visit from the local child protective services acting on a tip; believing Edith had called them, Rose ended the friendship.

Rose is arrested. Since she can't afford bail, Rose is remanded ahead of her trial, set to take place in two-and-a-half months. She leaves her daughter Nancy in the care of Bill, her partner. Nonetheless, police officer Gladys Moss is skeptical, noticing differences between Rose's handwriting and that of the letters. However, her observations are dismissed by her misogynistic superior Chief Constable Spedding, who forbids her from investigating.

Elsewhere, Rose meets Edith's friends Ann, Mabel and Kate for insight. Kate detests her, but Ann and Mabel are more sympathetic. Rose initially attempts to seek Gladys' help but is rebuffed; nonetheless, Ann and Mabel bail her out.

Immediately upon release, Edward and other Littlehampton residents confront her with similar letters. The case swiftly spirals into a national sensation, earning the attention of Westminster and the press. Gladys finally agrees to help Rose, noting the discrimination they both have faced.

Privately, Edith is revealed to be the sender, having orchestrated the affair to channel her repressed anger towards Edward's maltreatment. She writes another letter to herself, only for it to be intercepted by an unknowing Victoria, who dies from shock.

Whilst concluding the police formalities, Gladys notices similarities between Edith's signature and the letters; again, her claims are dismissed by Spedding, who suspends her from duty. Undeterred, Gladys enlists Ann, Mabel and Kate to privately investigate, albeit without Rose's involvement.

Nevertheless, Edith evades Gladys and outsmarts her whilst posting another letter. On the eve of her trial, Rose finally discovers the ruse when she notices that the distinctive form of the letter G on a sign that Edith had created is identical to that in the letters.

During the trial, Rose admits her infamy for her profuse vulgarities, noting she would have communicated them verbally rather than write the anonymous letters. Her defense counsel also points to Edith’s handwriting, but is dismissed.

The prosecution, however, corners Rose by revealing Nancy's true origins as an illegitimate child and not the daughter of a killed Great War soldier, as Rose had previously claimed. The revelation upsets both Nancy and Bill.

Later, Edith confronts Edward over his control: he was the one who tipped off child services on Rose; he shuts her down. The next day, Gladys and the trio realize Edith would write a final letter, and thus have specific stamps dipped in specially-prepared invisible ink for Edith to use, which she falls for.

Rose flees when Spedding attempts to arrest her prematurely. She corners Edith over her trickery, culminating in their exchanging foul language; nonetheless, the letter is posted. Gladys had her niece intercept it, and demonstrate Edith's culpability by revealing the ink, resulting in her arrest and Rose’s exoneration.

Following the trial, the two women share a civil moment; Edith regrets the end of the friendship, explaining she meant no hurt. She manages a final, defiant moment against Edward by cursing at him publicly - much to his shock and Rose's glee. As Edith is taken away, a closing note reveals the fate of the characters: Edith was sentenced to twelve months' hard labor, Rose was never accused again and Gladys was commemorated for her actions.

Production
The story and cultural context behind the plot had previously been explored in two books by historian Emily Cockayne, 'Cheek by Jowl: A History of Neighbours' (ISBN 9780099546948) and 'Penning Poison: A History of Anonymous Letters' (ISBN 978-0198795056).

The film was announced in May 2022, with Thea Sharrock set to direct, and Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley starring. In September, the cast was rounded out with Anjana Vasan, Timothy Spall, Gemma Jones and Eileen Atkins among the additions.

Production began in September 2022 and continued till early October in Arundel and Worthing, with some scenes filmed in and around the former Crown Court in Aylesbury. Ben Davis served as cinematographer. Principal photography took place on Stage 1 of Pinewood Studios.

Release
The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on 9 September 2023.

In November 2023, Sony Pictures Classics acquired North American and Chinese distribution rights, after its sister company Stage 6 Films acquired international rights in various countries including Latin America, Scandinavia, Asia (excluding China), Eastern Europe, the CIS and the Baltics.

The film was released in cinemas in the United Kingdom on 23 February 2024.

Reception
Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film three stars out of four and wrote, "The chief delight in Wicked Little Letters is watching Colman and Buckley in action; it's really not much of a mystery, as the culprit is revealed to us long before the townsfolk catch on."