The Wicker Man (2006)

A sheriff investigating the disappearance of a young girl from a small island discovers there's a larger mystery to solve among the island's secretive, neo-pagan community.

Director:

Neil LaBute

Writers:

Neil LaBute (screenplay), Anthony Shaffer

Stars:

Nicolas Cage, Ellen Burstyn, Kate Beahan

1 win & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nicolas Cage	...	Edward Malus
Ellen Burstyn	...	Sister Summerslsle
Kate Beahan	...	Sister Willow Woodward
Frances Conroy	...	Dr. T.H. Moss
Molly Parker	...	Sister Rose / Sister Thorn
Leelee Sobieski	...	Sister Honey
Diane Delano	...	Sister Beech
Michael Wiseman	...	Officer Pete
Erika-Shaye Gair	...	Rowan Woodward (as Erika Shaye Gair)
Christa Campbell	...	Truck Stop Waitress
Emily Holmes	...	Station Wagon Mom
Zemphira Gosling	...	Station Wagon Girl
Matthew Walker	...	Sea Plane Pilot
Mary Black	...	Sister Oak
Christine Willes	...	Sister Violet

Storyline

While recovering from a tragic accident on the road, the patrolman Edward Malus receives a letter from his former fiancée Willow, who left him years ago without any explanation, telling that her daughter Rowan is missing. Edward travels to the private island of Summerisle, where Willow lives in an odd community that plant fruits, and she reveals that Rowan is actually their daughter. Along his investigation with the hostile and unhelpful dwellers, Edward discloses that the locals are pagans, practicing old rituals to improve their harvest, and Rowan is probably alive and being prepared to be sacrificed. When he locates the girl, he finds also the dark truth about the wicker man.

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Plot Keywords:

island | girl | investigation | ritual | letter | 

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Taglines:

Some Sacrifices Must Be Made

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for disturbing images and violence, language and thematic issues

Details

Official Sites:

Warner Bros [United States]

Country:

USA Germany Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 September 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

El culto siniestro

Filming Locations:

Bowen Island, British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$289,283 (Brazil) (3 November 2006)

Gross:

$1,391,887 (Brazil) (17 November 2006)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros., Alcon Entertainment, Millennium Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The movie was originally rated R for extreme violence, disturbing images, language, and thematic elements, but director Neil LaBute wanted a broader audience, so they cut most of the scenes out, some of which have been included in the unrated version of the DVD, to deem it PG-13. However, there are about four minutes of additional cut footage that are not shown in the unrated DVD.

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Goofs

Officer Malus picks up dirt off of "Rowan's" grave twice.

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Quotes

Edward Malus: You little liars. Rowan Woodward IS your classmate, isn't she? ISN'T SHE? That is HER desk! And you're the biggest liar of them all. I am warning you, you tell me another and I'll arrest you myself. That is a promise, MISS...
Sister Rose: Rose, SISTER Rose.
Edward Malus: Of course, another plant! Rose!

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Connections

Featured in Shameful Sequels: Starship Troopers 3 Revisited (2013)

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Soundtracks

"Carnival Of Bones"
Traditional (Thoinot Arbeau-1589)
Arranged by Aaron Catlow, Mike Edwards, Phil Howard, Julia Laycock
Performed by Paescod
Courtesy of Paescod Recordings

User Reviews

Please don't waste your money

Don't let the premise fool you--this was one funny movie. The problem--it wasn't supposed to be a comedy. The story sets you up nicely for an ending that never comes. Even worse, the set-up is NEVER explained. You will leave the theater asking "Is that it?" I rate it a 2 simply because there were a few brief moments of promise, but the finish leaves you completely flat. Nicholas Cage did as good a job as can be expected in the role, but he had very little to work with. There are odd quirks, and interesting turns everywhere, which had absolutely nothing to do with the movie. Let this one come out on video before wasting your money.