Stars: Edward Woodward, Britt Ekland, Diane Cilento, Christopher Lee, Ingrid Pitt, Lindsay Kemp, Aubrey Morris, Russell Waters

Director: Robin Hardy

Summary: A police sergeant investigates a young girl's disappearance on a remote Scottish island and finds a pagan cult with some horrifying rites.

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.

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Reviewed by: davybozal24-7
Posted on April 2, 2006 3:32 PM

This cult horror movie directed by Robin Hardy , set the standard in this genre when it came out in 1973 . Starring Callan actor Edward
Woodward as devout christian policeman Sergeant Howie and the ever reliable Christopher Lee as Lord Summerisle , this cult film
which also starred Britt Eklund in a risque perfomance never to be forgotten , tells the tale of a young girl who disappears on the the remote island of Summerisle . Sergeant Howie is sent to investigate , however , what starts out as a routine enquiry soon becomes a terrifying nightmare for the devout church - goer .
Classic Cult Viewing Indeed .

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It must be stressed that, despite the fact that it was produced in 1973 and stars Christopher Lee, The Wicker Manis nota Hammer Horror film. There is no blood, very little gore and the titular Wicker Man is not a monster made out of sticks that runs around killing people by weaving them into raffia work. Edward Woodward plays Sergeant Howie, a virginal, Christian policeman sent from the Scottish mainland to investigate the disappearance of a young girl on the remote island of Summerisle.

The intelligent script by Anthony Schaffer, who also wrote the detective mystery Sleuth(a film with which The Wicker Manshares many traits), derives its horror from the increasing isolation, confusion and humiliation experienced by the naïve Howie as he encounters the island community's hostility and sexual pagan rituals, manifested most immediately in the enthusiastic advances of local landlord's daughter Willow (Britt Ekland). Howie's intriguing search, made all the more authentic by the film's atmospheric locations and folkish soundtrack, gradually takes us deeper and deeper into the bizarre pagan community living under the guidance of the charming Laird (Lee, minus fangs) as the film builds to a terrifying climax with a twist to rival that of The Sixth Senseor Fight Club. --Paul Philpott

On the DVD:The Wicker Mancan finally be seen in its glorious entirety on DVD, thanks to the restoration of some 15 minutes of previously lost material. Since the original negative long ago disappeared (apparently dumped beneath the M3 motorway) the picture quality for the added scenes is dubious, but what's much more important is the regained richness in the depiction of Summerisle's society (including a wonderful deflowering ritual set to music) and the added depth to Howie's character. Almost redundantly this excellent two-disc package provides the butchered theatrical cut as well, which comes with a good new documentary explaining both the genesis of the film and its turbulent history. Christopher Lee and director Robin Hardy pop up in an archival interview from the 1970s and are also reunited with Edward Woodward in the brand-new and first-rate commentary track for the director's cut: Lee in particular remains passionate about the movie and still angry about its shabby treatment. Both versions of the film are widescreen 1.85:1; the theatrical cut is in remastered Dolby 5.1, but the director's cut remains in mono. --Mark Walker

Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Documentary - 1. THE WICKER MAN ENIGMA (35 mins), Interview - 1. Christopher Lee - Star (25 mins), Trailer - 1. Original Theatrical, 2. TV Spots, 3. Radio Spots, Biographies - 1. Cast & Crew, Original Theatrical Press Brochure
Year:	1973
Release Date:	April 22, 2002
Runtime:	84 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	D 038281
Label:	Canal Plus
Keywords:	Special, Man, General, Edition, Wicker, Horror, Occult, Sci, Fi
Genre:	Horror/Occult