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Amazon.co.uk Review
It must be stressed that despite the fact that it was produced in 1973 and stars both Christopher Lee and Britt Ekland, The Wicker Man is not a 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 young girl on the remote island of Summer Isle. The intelligent script by Anthony Schaffer, who also wrote the detective mystery Sleuth (a film with which The Wicker Man shares 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 of Summer Isle (Lee, minus fangs) as the film builds to a terrifying climax with a twist to rival that of The Sixth Sense or Fight Club. --Paul Philpott
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
44 of 44 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
A film which changes peoples's lives. Once seen, the haunting images in The Wicker Man will stay with you forever: this is a film which proves that terror comes from the mind and the soul and makes the gruesome masks, bloodlust and decapitations of the so-called horror films of the 80's and 90's look like heavy-handed, garish, slapstick imitations of the real thing. Christopher Lee looks entirley at home in his role as the Heathen ("though not an unenlightened one") Lord Summerisle and not once does he have to bare his fangs. Edward Woodward, meanwhile, is totally believable as the devoutly Christian copper thrown into circumstances completely beyond his limited experience and comprehension. His character, Sgt Howie, remains focussed on both his duty and his unwavering faith to the bitter end. The counterpoint of the cheerful, apparently helpful islanders, the genreally sunny setting and the functional, settled community with the haunting folk tunes, monoliths, masks and pagan imagery send and often unexpected shiver up the spine and the whole story is a carefully orchestrated, inexorable journey toward a truly horrific finale. I have encountered people who watch this film weekly, have the read the excellent novel drawn from it on countless occasions and have generally have their whole lives altered by the Wicker Man; you surely cannot miss the opportunity to purchase this for yourself and feel the power of The Wicker Man...
David Aylett
26 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is one of the best British films ever made - simply that! Considering its pretty low budget it is staggering how good this is. There is no other film that compares to this, it really belongs in a genre all of its own. Made in a time when horror films were completely formulaic (the same is still true I guess) this film really broke the mold. I must have seen this film 20 or 30 times over the years and I still love it.
Christopher Lee (Lord Summerisle) describes this as his greatest moment. Perhaps you think well so what, he didn't have that many, but here he is excellent. Edward Woodward also gives a tremendous performance as Sergeant Howie. The other main actors maybe aren't so good but what really makes this film is the contribution of the bit part actors and extras many of whom were local repertory players or just members of the public. They give the film a real authentic feel. The script and the storyline are truly excellent and the ending still shocks.
But the absolute best thing about this is the music. Composed by Paul Giovanni. This has to be some of the most fitting film score ever written. It just goes with the film so well. To be honest I pretty much hate "musicals" but in the case of the Wicker Man I don't feel worried that people start bursting into song - it just goes so well with the storyline and adds the quirky feel that makes this film a cult classic.
The good thing about this release on DVD is that it gives you a chance to compare the butchered cinema release version (which most people will have seen as this is the version generally shown on TV) to the extended directors cut version which is infinitely better. A few of the scenes on this version are a little dodgy in quality due to the difficulties restoring this film (see the book "Inside the Wicker Man" which is also excellent). However the presence of scenes such as "Gently Johnny" certainly add to the film.
A genuine classic of British cinema.
Christopher Lee (Lord Summerisle) describes this as his greatest moment. Perhaps you think well so what, he didn't have that many, but here he is excellent. Edward Woodward also gives a tremendous performance as Sergeant Howie. The other main actors maybe aren't so good but what really makes this film is the contribution of the bit part actors and extras many of whom were local repertory players or just members of the public. They give the film a real authentic feel. The script and the storyline are truly excellent and the ending still shocks.
But the absolute best thing about this is the music. Composed by Paul Giovanni. This has to be some of the most fitting film score ever written. It just goes with the film so well. To be honest I pretty much hate "musicals" but in the case of the Wicker Man I don't feel worried that people start bursting into song - it just goes so well with the storyline and adds the quirky feel that makes this film a cult classic.
The good thing about this release on DVD is that it gives you a chance to compare the butchered cinema release version (which most people will have seen as this is the version generally shown on TV) to the extended directors cut version which is infinitely better. A few of the scenes on this version are a little dodgy in quality due to the difficulties restoring this film (see the book "Inside the Wicker Man" which is also excellent). However the presence of scenes such as "Gently Johnny" certainly add to the film.
A genuine classic of British cinema.
42 of 43 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I won't bother reviewing the film itself, as I'm sure most of you reading this are already fans, so I'll just stick to describing this new 3-disc release.
As many of you probably know, the film was considered too long for a commercial release by the typically clueless studio execs of the time, and was summarily hacked-down by about 15 minutes. In a depressing turn of events, the original negative of the film was lost, leaving no high quality method of restoring the missing footage.
Luckily for us, they were able to clip the missing footage into the main print, via the only full, unedited version in existence...a print owned by Roger Corman, the American king of exploitation pictures no less!
The quality of the missing scenes is not nearly as good as the rest of the film, making a list of "restored scenes" entirely unnecessary (you'll be able to tell), but it's probably the best we will ever get.
The package contains both the edited and newly restored versions of the film. The edited theatrical version has a very good transfer and 5.1 dolby sound mix. The Director's cut is presented in the aforementioned spotty video and mono audio.
The excellent commentary from the previous U.K. version is also included here (even if Christopher Lee comes off a bit cranky), as well as the original 35 minute featurette "The Wicker Man Enigma".
What's new is the freshly produced 60 minute documentary hosted by Mark Kermode. It's a wonderful and informative documentary, that suprisingly covers mostly different ground than the "Wicker Man Enigma", paying more attention to the genesis of the project and it's filming, rather than the "unfortunate fate" of the film covered in "Enigma".
You also get a soundtrack CD, which is something I've been waiting for forever. The sound quality is excellent, suprisingly so, although "The Landlord's daughter" is a different version than the one from the film. They must have lost the original. Also, there is no tracklisting for the CD, but that's a minor quibble.
This is a big upgrade for North American buyers, as we gain the new documentary as well as the soundtrack and commentary. U.K. buyers are only gaining the documentary, and soundtrack, but either way I think it's well worth the upgrade. Job well done!
As many of you probably know, the film was considered too long for a commercial release by the typically clueless studio execs of the time, and was summarily hacked-down by about 15 minutes. In a depressing turn of events, the original negative of the film was lost, leaving no high quality method of restoring the missing footage.
Luckily for us, they were able to clip the missing footage into the main print, via the only full, unedited version in existence...a print owned by Roger Corman, the American king of exploitation pictures no less!
The quality of the missing scenes is not nearly as good as the rest of the film, making a list of "restored scenes" entirely unnecessary (you'll be able to tell), but it's probably the best we will ever get.
The package contains both the edited and newly restored versions of the film. The edited theatrical version has a very good transfer and 5.1 dolby sound mix. The Director's cut is presented in the aforementioned spotty video and mono audio.
The excellent commentary from the previous U.K. version is also included here (even if Christopher Lee comes off a bit cranky), as well as the original 35 minute featurette "The Wicker Man Enigma".
What's new is the freshly produced 60 minute documentary hosted by Mark Kermode. It's a wonderful and informative documentary, that suprisingly covers mostly different ground than the "Wicker Man Enigma", paying more attention to the genesis of the project and it's filming, rather than the "unfortunate fate" of the film covered in "Enigma".
You also get a soundtrack CD, which is something I've been waiting for forever. The sound quality is excellent, suprisingly so, although "The Landlord's daughter" is a different version than the one from the film. They must have lost the original. Also, there is no tracklisting for the CD, but that's a minor quibble.
This is a big upgrade for North American buyers, as we gain the new documentary as well as the soundtrack and commentary. U.K. buyers are only gaining the documentary, and soundtrack, but either way I think it's well worth the upgrade. Job well done!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A classic of its type
I came across this by accident and watched it from start to finish. It's a weird sort of film but quite gripping. I really enjoyed it and would certainly watch it again. Read more
Published 7 days ago by Jimser10
The thinking man's horror flick
An all time cult-classic and prime example of how to make a genuinely spooky film without resorting to mindless gore and gimmickry. Read more
Published 17 days ago by christopher grant
The Toilet Man!
*Spoilers*
I am a huge film fan and having heard the premise for this film and all the positive comments I took the opportunity to watch it on Sky movies a few weeks... Read more
I am a huge film fan and having heard the premise for this film and all the positive comments I took the opportunity to watch it on Sky movies a few weeks... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Bourne1886
So many versions to choose from...
In a lot of ways The Wicker Man isn't really a horror film - it's a drama about faith and conviction. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Trevor Willsmer
A Masterpiece
It's hard to give "The wicker man" any more superlatives than most have already given it. This is one of the finest british films of all time, cruelly butchered in the editing room... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Mr. Russell C. Witheyman
Great service!
This version is out of print in the US! I was so pleased to have found it at such a great price! Fast delivery!
-Travman
-Travman
Published 8 months ago by Travman
Spooky and atmospheric!
Got caught up in this creepy and provocative way of life on the remote Scottish island as free love and sensuality were exploited to the maximum effect. Read more
Published 8 months ago by sue
It's a tad strange, but rather good.
It's a film that will obviously divide opinion. There will be some people who just don't get it, or can't see what all the fuss is about. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Rustic
OH MY GOD...THE WICKER MAN-CULT BRILLIANCE
When I was growing up, the Wicker Man seemed to be a regular feature of tv screenings, with it (like Thx 1138, Soylent Green, Omega Man, Planet of The Apes and the Bond movies also... Read more
Published 15 months ago by sam lowry
Brave and brilliant.
I enjoyed the DVD commentary because so many of the speakers are so enthusiastic about "The Wicker Man."
There's really little I can add to the positive reviews. Read more
There's really little I can add to the positive reviews. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Yoga Punguin
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