Lead
Olivia Colman’s new folk‑horror romance Wicker, in which she portrays a woman who falls in love with a wicker figure, has been given a 4DX release, the motion‑seat and sensory cinema format more commonly reserved for action blockbusters. The film’s erotic scenes and the format’s physical effects have produced audience responses that some have likened to the atmosphere of a major pop concert.
4DX and an unlikely candidate
Introduced in the United States in 2014, 4DX adds moving seats, scent dispensers and wind or water effects to theatrical screenings, a configuration that has typically complemented high‑octane action films. The format, the second‑most popular large premium option in the U.S. after IMAX, has become associated with movies where repeated physical motion and environmental cues intensify spectacle. Distributors and exhibitors say Wicker is an unusual but commercially interesting fit.
Cast reaction and publicity
Stars of the film have leaned into the movie’s unconventional premise in interviews. Olivia Colman said she was immediately hooked by the script, recalling, “I saw the script and went: oooh!” Her co‑star Alexander Skårsgard has also been central to the film’s promotion. The pairing of a celebrated dramatic actor with an offbeat erotic conceit has been a focal point of publicity as the picture reaches wider audiences in the immersive format.
Audience response and critical questions
Reports of audience reactions at 4DX screenings describe vocal responses and heightened engagement that venue staff and some commentators have compared—hyperbolically—to the intensity of pop‑concert crowds. The decision to present a sex‑centred folk‑horror romance in a format associated with rollercoaster‑style thrills has prompted discussion about how far immersive technologies should be stretched and what kinds of films benefit from theme‑park‑style presentation.
Context and cultural debate
Beyond the novelty of the format pairing, Wicker has generated commentary about its themes and tone. Observers and critics have raised questions about the film’s treatment of sexuality and the implications of its narrative for broader cultural ideas about sexual politics. Whether the 4DX release will change perceptions of the film or simply amplify its shock and entertainment value remains to be seen as it reaches a wider cinema audience.