When putting together a pair of actors like Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley, there’s a lot of hope before you’ve even looked into what the film is about. In this context, they star in Wicked Little Letters, a genuinely enjoyable 1920s-set comedy-drama that tells a tale based on a true story, and it’s one where we’re in the realms of stranger than fiction.

Wicked Little Letters takes us into the life of two neighbours in the 1920s seaside town of Littlehampton in West Sussex. Following Edith Swan (played by Colman) and Rose Gooding (Buckley), we’re given a little life history of the duo, where friendship was made out of an unlikely scenario because Edith is a religious, conservative woman living with her parents still, and Rose has moved into the village, after leaving Ireland with her daughter, and now lives with her and partner Bill (Malachi Kirby) next door.

One day Edith, and other residents, begin to receive foul-mouthed letters, directed at the recipient, which are full of profanity and insults – with words being used that shouldn’t usually be said out loud in the 1920s setting, and especially not in the robust household of Edith, who’s father (an angry and purposefully disquieting Timothy Spall) and mother (Gemma Jones) are physically in-shock and emotionally hurt by the letters they’re receiving.

With no-one else to blame in the village, Edith and her family accuse Rose – due her love of swearing and a general ‘free-will’ vibe, which doesn’t sit pretty to the more conservative Swan family. But, as this is the 1920s, Rose is actually arrested and charged with it as a crime, even though the Police don’t really have any proof at all – as they’re going on hearsay and personality, over facts and reality.

In the real world, the Littlehampton Letter Scandal captured nationwide attention, and Jonny Sweet’s script, with Thea Sharrock’s direction, highlights this when Rose goes to trial and, with it, the usual tabloid suspects want to talk about the story and put it in the newspapers. But, you see, all is not what it seems in Wicked Little Letters because although there is a male-dominated Police force, there’s also young female Police Officer Gladys Moss (Anjana Vasan), who’s isn’t convinced they’ve arrested the right person and while she doesn’t get the work-support she needs to investigate, she surreptitiously teams up with other women of the town to find out who has really been writing the letters, in the hope of clearing Rose’s name.

Alongside two glorious turns from Colman and Buckley, who are quite brilliant, Anjana Vasan almost steals the show with a superb co-starring performance as Officer Moss. As well as using her intellect and insight, she teams up with Mabel (Eileen Aitkins), Kate (Lolly Adefope) and Ann (Joanna Scanlan – who gives an especially stellar comic performance), to delve into the truth and use their local village skills to reveal the shocking truth over who has been sending the filthy letters to everyone.

While Wicked Little Letters is largely an amusing escapade, it does have some heavy emotional beats in relation to tough family love, and possibly war PTSD, plus comments on the sacrifices some people make for the sake of others, which are dealt with perceptively and equally. As a general adventure, this is a fine romp with excellent chemistry from the ensemble cast, it’s also nicely paced and pulls you into the little world with genuine intrigue and entertainment.

Also, if you know of Colman and Buckley’s love for a juicy swearword, then you’re in a definite treat. The Extras on the Blu-ray, all short and snappy featurettes, certainly celebrate their real-life relationship, and the joy everyone had making it – I’d love to see a behind-the-scenes gag reel though, it surely had a lot of amusing moments during filming!

Wicked Little Letters is out now on digital, Blu-ray and DVD from StudioCanal – purchase here*: https://amzn.to/3JWDNiH

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*this is an affiliate link, but these are very much my own opinions on the film