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 #62 | 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:

feminism | unintentional humor | matriarchy | matronizing | matriarch | 

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Taglines:

Some Sacrifices Must Be Made

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Genres:

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 USA:

$11,740,235, 3 September 2006, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$23,643,531, 12 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

Although a failure, the movie has gained a cult following due to Nicolas Cage's acting which people said was "unintentionally funny."

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Goofs

When Malus first lands on the island his hair is mussed and he is very sweaty. The next instant his hair is neatly combed and he has a fresh makeup job.

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Quotes

Sister Summersisle: Welcome, Mr. Malus. You have come of your own free will to keep your appointment with the Wicker Man.

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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 Conan: Everybody Wang But Don't Chung Tonight (2011)

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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

Worth seeing but for all the wrong reasons

I forgot the fact that I didn't do a review on this movie. If I hadn't seen the original a couple of days ago, it would have probably stayed that way. This movie is... weird. But unlike the original, which the weirdness in that adds to the film's strange qualities about it, this one does weirdness in such a way that makes it enjoyable to watch, just not in the way the director intended.

So the plot, a cop troubled with the death of a mother and child via truck that he was partly responsible for, he is sent a letter by an ex-girlfriend that reports her missing child on the island she lives (kind of outside his jurisdiction, really) that may or may not be his. So when he gets there he finds that it's run by some kind of neo-pagan cult that's entirely made up of women and men are a minority to do work or some crap.

This movie is awful. Nicholas Cage spends most of the movie just fumbling around barely doing anything. When asking someone if he's seen the lost child and they don't answer - he just changes the subject and we're supposed to believe his intentions are sincere after that. The reason why the original does this better is that the remake pads out him not having any luck in finding the child to questioning whether he cares.

Although... This movie gets hilarious. Do I even need to tell you about the "Not the bees!" scene, the "How did it get burned?!" or even Nicholas Cage in a bear suit punching people. And this was meant to be serious? Well, there are scenes like this that, thanks to Nicholas Cage mainly - just become funny.

Aside from that there isn't anything else to comment on. I'd say don't see it if you're a fan of the original or anything like that, see it if you're a Nicholas Cage fan. This movie showcases his all-out craziness like no other movie I've seen him do. There is just so much reasoning to see it if you're a Nick Cage fan that it's well worth the watch. Everyone else... You won't enjoy this.