Search - The Wicker Man [With Wooden Box] 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 SwapaDVD Credits: 2 Number of Discs: 2 Run Time: 3 hrs 7 mins Studio: Anchor Bay Members Wishing: 4 Genres: Horror, Supernatural Horror, Police Detective Film See Also: The Wicker Man, 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

One of the most unsettling pictures of the 1970s, The Wicker Man has long been a cult favorite of horror and suspense movie fans. Since the film has been shown in a number of butchered edits, this Anchor Bay DVD is a real treat. Even though the box lists the running time at 88 minutes (which corresponds to the severely edited version first shown in U.S. theaters in 1974), the version shown here is actually the original edit that runs about 15 minutes longer. The anamorphic widescreen transfer is excellent and the saturated color palette used by the filmmakers has never looked richer. The remixed audio track is an English Dolby Digital 5.1 mix that is free of hiss or background noise. The DVD also contains a "making of" featurette that explores the history of the movie and includes many of its major participants, including star Christopher Lee. Also included on the DVD are The Wicker Man's original theatrical trailer, as well as TV and radio spots. With this DVD, Anchor Bay has finally let audiences see The Wicker Man the way it was meant to be seen -- restored and remastered. ~ Nick Dedina, All Movie Guide