The Wicker Man – DVD Review

Film, Reviews

Available at Amazon.com

Director

Neil Labute

Cast

Nicolas Cage Edward Malus
Ellen Burstyn Sister Summersisle
Kate Beahan Sister Willow
Frances Conroy Dr. Moss
LeeLee Sobieski Sister Honey
Molly Parker Sister Rose/Sister Thorn

DVD Release Date: December 19, 2006
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 106 Minutes

The Movie

In 1973 a film was made about a police officer who travels to a little town set off by itself to investigate the disappearance of a young girl. Upon arriving in the town, the residents act very odd and even go as far as to deny that the little girl ever even existed. The officer is of course intrigued by all this and extremely confused. But his confusion sets in even deeper when he learns of the strange rituals and ceremonies that take place within the town’s borders.

That film was called The Wicker Man. It was good, mysteries, creepy, and quite enjoyable. What the movie is you will be getting by purchasing the DVD is something with maybe 5% of the same premise but done ten times worse then you could ever imagine.

Everything is so extremely clichéd that it makes the senseless plot holes and awkward scenes just that much worse. Let me give you an example as to what I mean by awkward scenes. Near the very beginning of the film, Nicolas Cage’s character, Officer Malus, is speaking to another officer trying to get some things off his chest. The conversation ends, she leaves, and he sits down at his laptop. The phone then rings and it goes straight to that horrible beeping noise and he looks at it as if that is some sort of sign. The movie just started five minutes ago, the creepiness behind such an old shot is not yet built up.

The movie could be good, it really really could. And the thing is, it is good; the original that is. This new version tried extremely too hard to recreate the original film but to modernize it in such a way to make it seem as if this was the first time it has ever been shown to the world. Generic horror spots such as the odd phone call and out of place flashbacks just make me groan out in boredom and disbelief that a good horror movie was represented so badly when today’s technology and knowledge could have made it a masterpiece.

The Video

The film is seen in 2.35:1 Letterbox Widescreen and looks good. I must say though that’s about all that’s good.

The Audio

Heard in Dolby Digital 5.1 and sounds good too. I will give this film the benefit of the doubt here because the only amount of creepiness delivered comes from the good choices of music in particular scenes.

Special Features

Alternate Ending

Audio Commentary – Director Neil Labute, cast members LeeLee Sobieski and Kate Beahan, editor Joel Plotch, and costume designer Lynette Meyer. Yeah, they got the costume designer in on the commentary, so that should tell you right there that it’s not worth watching the movie a second time to hear the commentary.

Theatrical Trailer

The Inside Pulse

There’s nothing I can say here that should make you run out or even slowly walk out and want to buy this DVD. The severe lack of extras and sub-par film do not even warrant a rental of it. If you want to see a good movie but the story of The Wicker Man still interests you, then go find a copy of the 1973 versions starring Edward Woodward and Christopher Lee. There is a good night of movie enjoyment.

The DVD Lounge’s Ratings for The Wicker Man
CATEGORY
RATING
(OUT OF 10)
THE MOVIE

2.5
THE VIDEO

7
THE AUDIO

7
THE EXTRAS

2
REPLAY VALUE

3
OVERALL
3.5
(NOT AN AVERAGE)