Search - The Wicker Man on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Violence, Nudity, Adult Situations, Not For Children, Adult Language Movie Release: 1974 DVD Release: 08/21/2001 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 28 mins Studio: Anchor Bay Members Wishing: 0 Genres: Horror, Supernatural Horror, Police Detective Film See Also: The Wicker Man [With Wooden Box], The Wicker Man [Extended Edition], The Wicker Man [Repackaged], The Wicker Man [Special Edition], Cult Fiction: The Wicker Man, The Wicker Man

A righteous police officer investigating the disappearance of a young girl comes into conflict with the unusual residents of a secluded Scottish isle in this unsettling, intelligent chiller. Brought to the island of Summerisle by an anonymous letter, Edward Woodward's constable is surprised to discover that the island's population suspiciously denies the missing girl's very existence. Even more shocking, at least to the traditionally pious law office, the island is ruled by a libertarian society organized around pagan rituals. Repelled by the open acceptance of sexuality, nature worship, and even witchcraft, the officer takes an antagonistic attitude towards the people and their leader, an eccentric but charming English lord (Christopher Lee). The officer's unease intensifies as he continues his investigation, slowly coming to fear that the girl's disappearance may be linked in a particularly horrifying manner to an upcoming public festival. Anthony Shaffer's meticulously crafted screenplay creates a thoroughly convincing alternative society, building tension through slow discovery and indirect suggestion and making the terrifying climax all the more effective. Performances are also perfectly tuned, with Woodward suitably priggish as the investigator and horror icon Lee delivering one of his most accomplished performances as Lord Summerisle. Little noticed during its original theatrical run due to studio edits and a limited release, the film's intelligence and uncanny tone has since attracted a devoted cult following. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide

Edward Woodward - Sgt. Neil Howie
Britt Ekland - Willow
Diane Cilento - Miss Rose
Ingrid Pitt - Librarian
Christopher Lee - Lord Summerisle

Anchor Bay released two versions of the 1974 British cult horror favorite The Wicker Man on DVD; the special edition comes in a wooden keep-case. The more inexpensive "theatrical version" contains a 39-minute documentary of "making of" interviews with director Robin Hardy, producer Peter Snell, writer Anthony Shaffer, filmmaker Roger Corman, stars Christopher Lee and Edward Woodward, and anybody else alive who can remember anything about the production. Actress Ingrid Pitt, who plays the creepy librarian of the conspiratorially demented island that traps arrogant lawman Sgt. Neil Howie (Woodward, recalls the harsh filming conditions on the remote Scottish island, and writer Shaffer (Sleuth) describes how the intention was to create an "anti-horror" film to compete, on a budget, with Hammer Films (Lee admits with a laugh that he was paid nothing for his performance). Lengthy text biographies are included, as well as the theatrical, TV, and radio spots (re-recorded for the disc). ~ Buzz McClain, All Movie Guide