The Wicker Man
1973
This controversial British cult classic, considered by its producer upon completion to be one of the worst films ever made, has been little seen since its brief theatrical release even though it is now regarded as a classic of British cinema. Edward Woodward stars as Sergeant Howie, a police officer sent to Summerisle, a .. Read more
| Starring | Edward Woodward, Britt Ekland, Diane Cilento, Christopher Lee |
|---|---|
| Director | Robin Hardy |
| Genres | Horror, Thriller |
loading...
The Wicker Man
This controversial British cult classic, considered by its producer upon completion to be one of the worst films ever made, has been little seen since its brief theatrical release even though it is now regarded as a classic of British cinema. Edward Woodward stars as Sergeant Howie, a police officer sent to Summerisle, a secluded island off the coast of Scotland, to investigate the disappearance of a young girl named Rowan. When he arrives there, he finds a very tight knit community, one mistrustful and hostile to outsiders--none of them seem willing to even acknowledge the disappearance of young Rowan. Soon Howie begins to realise that the town belongs to some sort of pagan cult, one given to unbridled sexuality and possibly human sacrifice. Seeking an audience with the oddly civilised Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee), Howie hopes to get to the bottom of the mystery, but instead finds something more shocking than he could have ever imagined.
A true cult classic that paints a disturbing portrait of an almost prehistoric, multi-deity worshipping society given to Bacchanalian excess and bizarre rituals, THE WICKER MAN is a truly unsettling experience. Erotic and mysterious, the film evokes the primal urges that underlay modern society through its unforgettable imagery and story.
| Starring | Edward Woodward, Britt Ekland, Diane Cilento, Christopher Lee, Ingrid Pitt |
|---|---|
| Director | Robin Hardy |
| Studio | STUDIO CANAL + OPTIMUM |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 24 mins Blu-ray: 1 hr 24 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Collections | 100 Top Thrillers |
| Genres | Horror, Thriller |
| Language | English |
| Released | DVD: 22 Apr 2002 Blu-ray: 01 Mar 2010 Production year: 1973 |
| Format | DVD |
The Wicker Man (2 discs) (1973)
Or you can rent each disc individually:
-
Critics' reviews (3)
View all -
Edward Woodward stars as the devoutly Christian policeman who finds his beliefs tested to the limit when he investigates the disappearance of a young girl on the pagan shores of Summerisle in this cult horror classic. Overshadowed when it was made by the release of The Exorcist, the film was re-edited by uncomprehending studio executives before being shown in the lower half of a double bill with another classic movie of 1973, Don't Look Now. Restored to something like its original glory by director Robin Hardy in 2002, with 15 minutes of additional footage, it can be seen as the masterpiece it is. With its literate script by Sleuth playwright Anthony Shaffer and memorable Scottish folk score, Hardy's fascinating mixture of horror, eroticism and religion is thoughtful, challenging and highly provocative entertainment. Christopher Lee, who plays the lord of the island, thinks it's one of the finest films he's ever made — and he's right.
-
A bona fide British eccentric near-classic: devoutly virginal protestant cop Edward Woodward is lured to a Scottish... read more on Time Out
-
Most helpful member's review
View all -
37 out of 47 people found this review helpful
You've just got to see this!
Anyone into horror should make time in their schedule to see the Wicker Man. It's an unexpected film in many ways, in my opinion, and must have created quite a storm when it first came out!
A lot of the 'cheap British horror films' of the time really don't stand the test of time - not so with this! It's as enjoyable and disconcerting today as it must have been then.
Rent it now! -
Most recent members' review
View all -
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful
Looks dated but still does the business!
The Wicker Man is a film which raises many questions. I suspect that when it was released, the lead character of a Policeman played by Edward Woodward would have seemed a lot more sympathetic. Today, however, he comes across as a somewhat bigoted dyed-in-the-wool christian who automatically rejects any belief other than his own narrow world view.
Aside from the question of the occasional murder (!), the residents of Summerisle participate in their own way of life in which they believe as fiercely as old PC Plod.
It is a fascinating story which unfurls slowly and leaves you unsure of what is going to happen until the very last minutes. It does look incredibly dated and there are some very bizarre musical interludes but still, a really good story. -
News and features
View all
Lee lands knighthood
- 14 Jun 2009
Legendary actor Christopher Lee is to receive a knighthood after he was included in Queen Elizabeth II's Birthday Honours list. The 87-year-old star, famed for his role as Count Dracula in a string of Hammer horror movies, is to become a Sir after he is presented with the honour by the monarch. Lee is one of the U.K.'s most prolific actors with roles in 1973's The Wicker Man, 1974 Bond movie The Man With The Golden Gun, and more recently appearing in the new Star Wars films and the Lord Of The Read more
-
More like this
View all
Related user collection
Top Ten Scared Me As A Kid Movies (10)
80% from 10 members
