Netflix watchers will be pleased to learn that an underrated British period film is available on the platform. Wicked Little Letters has been listed in YouTuber Couch Queens’ video about the 10 Underrated Period Dramas on Netflix right now.
Directed by Thea Sharrock and written by Jonny Sweet, Wicked Little Letters has been hailed by viewers. Its stellar cast line-up includes Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Anjana Vasan, Joanna Scanlan, Gemma Jones, Malachi Kirby, Lolly Adefope, Eileen Atkins and Timothy Spall.
The film’s synopsis reads: “A 1920s English seaside town bears witness to a farcical and occasionally sinister scandal in this riotous mystery comedy. Based on a stranger-than-fiction true story, Wicked Little Letters follows two neighbours: deeply conservative local Edith Swan (Colman) and rowdy Irish migrant Rose Gooding (Buckley). When Edith and fellow residents begin to receive wicked letters full of unintentionally hilarious profanities, foul-mouthed Rose is charged with the crime. The anonymous letters prompt a national uproar, and a trial ensues. However, as the town’s women – led by Police Officer Gladys Moss (Vasan) – begin to investigate the crime themselves, they suspect that something is amiss, and Rose may not be the culprit after all.”
Wicked Little Letters has received general praise since its release and has been awarded 92% by Rotten Tomatoes viewers. The critics award the film with a solid 80%, stating: “Thanks largely to a strong cast that leans into the story’s humorous side, Wicked Little Letters is a diverting comedy even if the mystery at its core isn’t particularly clever.”
A top critic said: “Colman and Buckley know how to make this material sing, and there are moments when both actors managed to make me squeeze out an authentic tear or two, only to have me enthusiastically giggling a scene or two later.”
“This film benefits greatly from three separate storylines that all converge together with three equally fantastic female protagonists,” another added.
An audience reviewer said they “absolutely loved” this movie, while another added that it was a “delightful surprise”.
“This is a fabulous feel-good film based on a true story of how Edith Swann wrote awful letters to herself and tried to frame her neighbour Rose,” another viewer said.
Wicked Little Letters is available to stream on Netflix.