Editorial Review:

Amazon.com:
Typically categorized as a horror film, The Wicker Man is actually a serious and literate thriller about modern paganism, written by Anthony Shaffer (Sleuth) with a deft combination of cool subjectivity and escalating dread. (Despite this promising directorial debut, British filmmaker Robin Hardy didn't make another film until The Fantasist, a little-seen thriller released in 1986.) We're introduced to the friendly but mysterious residents of Summerisle (located off the west coast of Scotland), where the isolated community enacts rituals that seem, at first, to be merely unconventional. When called in to investigate an anonymous tip about a missing child, mainland police sergeant Howie (Edward Woodward) is treated as an outsider, and the ominous Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee) has the inside advantage. As the repressed policeman is taunted by the island's sensuous atmosphere, his investigation leads to increasingly disturbing implications.

With phallic symbols and soothing music at every turn, Summerisle is a pleasant haven for those who perform the pagan rituals of Lord Summerisle's maverick ancestors. These earthy ceremonies are presented with alluring authenticity, and the island's tempting eroticism is fully expressed by the landlord's daughter (Britt Ekland), who fills Howie with barely suppressed carnal desire. (Sirens took a comedic approach to a similar situation in 1994.) And yet the mystery of the missing girl remains, with clues that hint at a darker reality beneath the colorful local customs. When that reality is ultimately discovered, Howie becomes the crucial element in the islanders' most elaborate ritual, which is where the film's title comes into play. It may not be horror, but it is horrific, and this makes The Wicker Man an unforgettable film. --Jeff Shannon

Description:
Special 2 - Disc Collectors edition of the Original movie filmed in 1973. Released to coincide with the release of the 2006 Wicker Man starring Nicholas Cage. Features:
Extended version with 11 minutes of additional footage
Theatrical Version
Brand new audio commentary with director Robin Hardy, actors Christopher
Liee and Edward Woodward and moderator Mark Kermonde

"The Wicker Man" is the 1973 cult film that rightly burns in the memories of viewers. Its plot is ordinary enough-- Sgt. Howie (Edward Woodward) comes from Scotland to the isolated island of Summerisle to investigate the case of a missing girl. The island's isolated citizens are evasive. He delves deeper, and finds more than he expects.

"Wicker Man" is famous mainly for Britt Ekland's nude dancing and Christopher Lee cross-dressing,and its titular wicker man. Howie embodies uptight Christianity, horrified when he learns that teenaged girls are being taught phallic symbols, seeing couples make love in the bushes, and nude women dancing through a bonfire to bless an expectant mother. The sinister and stylish Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee) is hedonistic, enjoying Nature worship and dismissive of Christianity. In an odd way, this 1973 cult classic is timely with its issues of Christianity vs. Earth-based worship, sex education, and the resurgence of paganism. As the villagers on Summerisle have become de-Christianized, their church falling into decay, so has Christianity in Europe become a relic. Howie's horror at "heathens" is mirrored in the recent video of VP nominee Sarah Palin receiving an exorcism from witchcraft at her former church.

"Wicker Man" makes for compelling, powerful cinema. Forget the lame Nicolas Cage remake (with bees! and Ellen Burstyn as the matriarch!) There's a chase through caves with music that sounds like the Grateful Dead,wonderful Celtic folk rock, and food for thought. This cinematic masterpiece burns bright.

Average Rating:

Rating: - Burning Man
"The Wicker Man" is the 1973 cult film that rightly burns in the memories of viewers. Its plot is ordinary enough-- Sgt. Howie (Edward Woodward) comes from Scotland to the isolated island of Summerisle to investigate the case of a missing girl. The island's isolated citizens are evasive. He delves deeper, and finds more than he expects.

"Wicker Man" is famous mainly for Britt Ekland's nude dancing and Christopher Lee cross-dressing,and its titular wicker man. Howie embodies uptight Christianity, horrified when he learns that teenaged girls are being taught phallic symbols, seeing couples make love in the bushes, and nude women dancing through a bonfire to bless an expectant mother. The sinister and stylish Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee) is hedonistic, enjoying Nature worship and dismissive of Christianity. In an odd way, this 1973 cult classic is timely with its issues of Christianity vs. Earth-based worship, sex education, and the resurgence of paganism. As the villagers on Summerisle have become de-Christianized, their church falling into decay, so has Christianity in Europe become a relic. Howie's horror at "heathens" is mirrored in the recent video of VP nominee Sarah Palin receiving an exorcism from witchcraft at her former church.

"Wicker Man" makes for compelling, powerful cinema. Forget the lame Nicolas Cage remake (with bees! and Ellen Burstyn as the matriarch!) There's a chase through caves with music that sounds like the Grateful Dead,wonderful Celtic folk rock, and food for thought. This cinematic masterpiece burns bright.

Rating: - Strange but entertaining
I saw a brief clip of this movie during the Bravo The 100 Greatest Scary Moments countdown and was immediately intrigued. I found this film, and boy was I surprised.

The premise is so unique and interesting, and the story evolves in such a bizarre matter that I laughed at some of the film because it was so utterly ridiculous at times!

A cop from the mainland goes to a small village island, Summerisle, off the coast of Scotland. The people seem rather perplexed by his presence as the officer comes to investigate the disappearance of a little girl, who they say never existed. Bawdy and erotic scenes of this primitive village tempt and torture the officer as he persists in his investigation. Even though he cannot seem to crack the case, he does discover a lot of strange rituals and behaviors of the community. Finally, the officer finds a way to "blend in" with the town to attempt one last effort at solving the mystery ....

Scary, not so much ... rather this film is an eerie (erotic) mystery. The ending is amazing (I was unable to predict the ending, so I was very surprised by the twists). I would suggest this film to a select few. If you have a passion for 70s scary movies, surprising films, or truly bizarre mysteries--this one is for you.

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Rating: - Not for Everyone
If you are into Freddie Krueger, Leatherface or Jason ... this movie probably is not for you (though I could be wrong). Basically this a story of the conflict between Christianity (represented by Edward Woodward's SGT Howie) and Paganism (represented by Christopher Lee's Lord Summerisle and the people of his island). Sometimes called the "Citizen Kane" of horror movies, it isn't really a horror film at all. In some ways THE WICKER MAN defies labels. It isn't quite a horror film and it isn't completely a psychological thriller. It isn't simply a conflict between old religion/new religion. It is all of them and something more. It is strange and erotic at the same time. Sex is a major theme or perhaps more rightly, reproduction. That is the core of the conflict and the reason for SGT Howie, ultimately, coming to Summerisle -- though he does not know it at the time. Woodward and Lee are standout as is Diane Cilento. Rod Stewart once tried to buy the negative of this movie to have it destroyed -- it featured his then girlfriend Brit Eklund in a nude dance. To appreciate this movie you really do have to view it more than once. The extended version works better in my view.

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Rating: - Where is the AUDIO COMMENTARY?
It is listed on the backcover, but nowhere to be seen on any of the two discs. What the heck?

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Rating: - Much Better--Less Cagey
I wasted an afternoon when the newer version came out. Nicholas Cage was not enough to salvage it. When I read that Christopher Lee said that the original Wicker Man was his favorite of all the movies that he had made, I rented it. The original version is sinister where the sequel is pityingly laughable. The songs, which were a bit distracting the first time, became assets on subsequent viewings. (like the piano piece from The Bad Seed)

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