| IMDb Link: |
The Wicker Man 
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| Genre: | Suspense; Thriller |
| Format: | DVD |
| Tagline: | Flesh to touch...Flesh to burn! Don't keep the Wicker Man waiting! |
| Synopsis: | 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. |
| Country: | UK |
| Year: | 1973 |
| Runtime: | 88 min |
| MPAA Rating: | R |
| AMG Rating: | * * * * |
| VMG Rating: | * * * * 1/2 |
| IMDb Rating: | 7.7 |
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| Aspect Ratio: | American Matte (1.85:1) |
| Anamorphic: | Yes |
| Color: | Color |
| Audio: | Dolby Digital 5.1 |
| Dialog Language: | English |
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| Director: | Robin Hardy (I) Robin Hardy |
| Cast: |
Edward Woodward - Sergeant Howie
Christopher Lee - Lord Summerisle Diane Cilento - Miss Rose Britt Ekland - Willow Ingrid Pitt - Librarian Lindsay Kemp - Alder MacGregor Russell Waters - Harbor Master Aubrey Morris - Old Gardener/Gravedigger Irene Sunters - May Morrison Walter Carr - School Master Ian Campbell (I) - Oak Leslie Blackater - Hairdresser Roy Boyd - Broome Peter Brewis - Musician Barbara Ann Brown - Woman with Baby Juliet Cadzow - Villager on Summerisle Ross Campbell (I) - Communicant Penny Cluer - Callie Michael Coles - Musician Kevin Collins (VII) - Old Fisherman Geraldine Cowper - Rowan Morrison Ian Cutler - Musician Donald Eccles - T.H. Lennox Myra Forsyth - Mrs. Grimmond John Hallam - P.C. McTaggert |
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| Awards: |
Saturn Award: Best Horror Film
1979
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| Web Links: | Internet Movie Database |