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 (as Neil Labute)

Writers:

Neil LaBute (screenplay) (as Neil Labute), Anthony Shaffer

Stars:

Nicolas Cage, Ellen Burstyn, Leelee Sobieski

Bottom Rated Movies #74 | 2 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nicolas Cage	...	Edward Malus
Ellen Burstyn	...	Sister SummersIsle
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

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.

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Plot Keywords:

unintentional humor | feminism | folk horror | ritual mask | pagan ritual | 

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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

Did You Know?

Trivia

The island seems to be run as a matriarchal society, with a single female leader and the male inhabitants being submissive servants (also implied to be sex slaves too). This is in reference to bees being eusocial, with a single fertile queen laying the eggs and running the hive of worker bees and drones.

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Goofs

Being allergic to bees, you would think that Malus would keep his eyes and mouth closed as opposed to screaming.

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Quotes

Edward Malus: BITCHES! YOU BITCHES!

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Alternate Versions

The Unrated DVD includes an alternate ending in which Malus is held down and his legs are broken at the knee. A wire mesh helmet is placed over his head and live bees are poured in. After he passes out, the helmet is removed and he is revived with a shot of adrenaline in the neck from his med-kit. Throughout all this, he keeps asking how can he be a good sacrifice if he does not believe in their religion. The movie proceeds along the lines of the theatrical version except the credits begin after the wicker man's burning head falls off. The "6 months later" scene is missing.

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Connections

Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Horror Movies Tried Too Hard (2020)

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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

Oh dear

What was I expecting? It was a pointless remake of a classic British film starring Nicholas Cage and re set in the States.

The first question I find myself asking is why did I watch this? Curiosity I think.

It really is quite simply terrible. Nicholas Cage when given free reign is a destructive influence to a film. Here he out loons even himself in one of the strangest performances I have ever seen.

Even writing about this film hurts. It's so utterly bad, I started doing the ironing to distract me. On a Sunday night.

The Original film is slowburn with a quirky offbeat kinda feel.

With a remake, all of the unknown plot points and twists from the first film would be apparent to the audience, so surely the impact would need to be replaced and the tension built through another means?

Wells sadly in this film having Nic Cage run around punching women in the face whilst dressed as a bear is about as tense as it gets.

Yes, that's right - he punches women whilst dressed as a bear.

Dear me.

Avoid.

Details

Official Sites:

Warner Bros [United States]

Country:

USA Mexico Canada Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 September 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Wicker Man

Filming Locations:

Bowen Island, British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$9,610,204, 3 September 2006

Gross USA:

$23,649,127

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$38,805,380

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