Wicker movie: Olivia Colman's basket-husband romance with Alexander Skarsgård opens in the US today

"Wicker movie" is the top film search in Pakistan this week, with Google Trends showing more than 2,000 searches in a day, as the strange, much-talked-about romance opens in US cinemas today, Friday 23 October. The UK and India get it a week later, on 30 October.

The hook is in the title: Olivia Colman plays an outcast fisherwoman who pays the village basketmaker to weave her a husband, and the man made of wicker, played by Alexander Skarsgård, turns out to be far better than anyone expected. His arrival stirs up jealousy and fascination across the village. The BBC this week called it the "freaky film romance" women are going wild for.

Wicker at a glance

Can you watch it in Pakistan?

No Pakistan cinema date has been announced. Hollywood titles from smaller distributors often skip a Pakistani release or arrive weeks later, so check the listings at Cinepax, Nueplex and Universal in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. Pakistanis in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and the UK should see it on local listings from the end of the month. No streaming date has been announced yet.

Why everyone is talking about it

The film was a breakout at Sundance in January and closed the Sitges festival in Spain on 18 October. Its pitch, a lonely woman literally building the perfect man, is what has people searching. Colman, an Oscar winner for The Favourite, plays it straight, which is much of the appeal.

If you are planning a cinema night, see what's on in your city in our entertainment section.