Black Bear is giving "Wicker" the 4DX treatment, but only once. The distributor has scheduled a single-night event for October 28, and the film itself opens October 23, according to IndieWire. Vulture also reported the October 28 date, describing the event as a response to popular demand.
The idea began as an online joke. Once the trailer for the bawdy comedy circulated, social media users began suggesting that a film about a woman and her husband made of wicker would be a natural fit for a format built around moving seats and sensory effects. Black Bear listened. IndieWire reported that the company and 4DX expect the special showings to run at roughly 60 locations.
What 4DX Brings to the Film
4DX is best known for loud action releases, IndieWire noted. The seats do much more than shake: the outlet counted 21 separate effects in the format's toolkit, spanning motion, water, wind, scent and vibration. Vulture likewise pointed to water effects and the occasional burst of scent, in addition to the chair-rumbling it expects audiences to be hoping for.
"Wicker" stars Olivia Colman as a fisherwoman who asks a local weaver, played by Peter Dinklage, to make her a husband. The result is a wicker man played by Alexander Skarsgård. Elizabeth Debicki also appears in the cast, per IndieWire, which describes the movie as a period piece.
Sound is already one of the film's selling points. IndieWire's review, by Ryan Lattanzio, singled out the sound design by Andy Neil, and the outlet said 4DX and its parent company, CJ 4DPLEX, are now building on that element for this event.
What the Filmmakers and Companies Said
Co-director Eleanor Wilson said in a statement that the team was surprised by how much the format improves the viewing experience. She said the comedy lands harder when the seat is rocking, and that subtler environmental shifts help immerse viewers in the film's odd world. Her co-director, Alex Huston Fischer, was more succinct: "We thought this was a joke. But now it's real. And it's spectacular."
David Spitz, Head of U.S. Theatrical Distribution for Black Bear, said audiences recognized from the trailer that the film could be something out of the ordinary, and that they began asking for a 4DX version. He added that he is pleased to see an original film reach people who might not usually think of themselves as its audience.
Paul Kim, COO of CJ 4DPLEX, called "Wicker" the kind of bold, imaginative film that shows what the format can add to theatrical storytelling. He said its unconventional setting gives the company room to use motion and environmental effects in unexpected ways.
The Bigger Picture for Black Bear
IndieWire placed the event against the backdrop of Black Bear's recent theatrical results. The outlet said "Christy" and this summer's "The Rivals of Amziah King" have had a hard time in theaters, while "Tuner," "Spa Weekend" and "In the Grey" have posted modest grosses. It described Black Bear as a relatively young distributor.
Coming releases include Guy Ritchie's "Wife & Dog," a David Leitch film with Jason Statham called "Jason Statham Stole My Bike," and "A Woman in the Sun," the first feature from director Julia Cox, IndieWire reported.
The interest in the one-night format shows how a social media joke can turn into an actual release plan. Whether it translates to the box office for "Wicker" is not something the sources address.
What to Know Before You Go
The reporting leaves some details open. IndieWire's text describes the October 28 screenings as happening before the October 23 opening, which doesn't line up with the calendar, so the exact relationship between the event and the release is unclear. Both outlets agree on October 28 as the date for the 4DX night. The sources don't say which locations will take part, and they say nothing about how the event will be sold.
Reporting sources: IndieWire, “One-Night Only Screenings of ‘Wicker’ in 4DX Will Let Horny Fans Feel Every Creak and Splinter” · Vulture, “Wicker Is Going 4DX for One Night Only”.
