The scandal at the centre of Britain’s dark comedy Wicked Little Letters – mail addressed from an anonymous source that uses risqué language – seems petty in comparison to the waves of crime procedurals at-home audiences educate themselves on weekly. But as naïve as the crime may appear to be, the controversy spoke to the times and ignited much needed awareness around inequality.

Edith Swan (Academy Award winner Olivia Colman) is the recipient of these inappropriate letters, and she suspects her neighbour, Rose Gooding (Academy Award nominee Jessie Buckley), is behind the harassment. Once friends before a domestic fallout, the women try to avoid each other with Rose being the more provocative and mischievous. Her brash attitude and colourful vocabulary tips Edith off, as well as the police officers who end up arresting Rose for libel. Rose claims the letters are not from her, and Police Officer Gladys Moss (Anjana Vasan of Mogul Mowgli),  someone within close proximity to Edith’s case who is undergoing her own separate scrutiny, may believe the curse-savvy culprit.

Wicked Little Letters is funny in its filthiness and inspired with its confidence. Director Thea Sharrock (Me Before You, The One and Only Ivan) and screenwriter Jonny Sweet know that – no matter your age or humour preferences – there is something inherently amusing when sophisticated and/or older folk spout off naughty words. It’s a set-up that sends everybody back to middle school. This isn’t a cheap ploy for laughs when intelligent creatives are involved, as the production proves. The comedy also works because the cast are all, rhythmically and charismatically, on the same frequency.

While occasionally broadly drawn, while striking a peculiar balance between an episode of Scooby-Doo and an “after dark” version of The Miracle Club, Wicked Little Letters is an all-around good time that makes you reflect in-between the laughs.

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Addison Wylie: @AddisonWylie