RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
RT's Blu-ray HQ
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / The Wicker Man
The Wicker Man

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Get this Movie
  • Buy Poster External Icon
  • Visit Official Site External Icon
Bookmark and Share

The Wicker Man (2006)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
15 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:100

Fresh:15

Rotten:85

Average Rating:3.5/10

Consensus: Puzzlingly misguided, Neil LaBute's update The Wicker Man struggles against unintentional comedy and fails.

Rated: PG-13 [See Full Rating] for disturbing images and violence, language and thematic issues

Runtime: 1 hr 46 mins

Genre: Dramas

Theatrical Release:Sep 1, 2006 Wide

Box Office: $23,607,080

Synopsis: Neil LaBute's THE WICKER MAN stars Nicholas Cage as Edward Malus, a policeman thrust into some dangerous detective work by a series of strange events that begin with a horrific car crash. This... Neil LaBute's THE WICKER MAN stars Nicholas Cage as Edward Malus, a policeman thrust into some dangerous detective work by a series of strange events that begin with a horrific car crash. This incident leaves the cop haunted, with images of the accident replaying in his heavily medicated mind. Edward's hiatus from work is interrupted when he receives a mysterious letter from his ex-fiancé, pleading with him to help find her missing daughter, Rowan. Against his better judgment, Edward travels to the remote, privately owned island of Summerisle, home to a close-knit, secretive community with a clear dislike for outsiders. Considering Edward an intruder, the Sisters of Summerisle offer little information regarding the missing girl. Edward is at a loss, finding even his ex-love Willow to be little help. With vacant eyes and a strange, listless way about her, Willow should be the first of many red flags to send Edward running. But in firm horror-movie tradition, the seasoned cop throws caution to the winds, staying in the place longer than seems smart. This 2006 remake veers away from the 1973 film in several key ways. For one, it replaces the original's eerily upbeat folk soundtrack with a tasteful Angelo Badalamenti score. With a mild PG-13 rating, the 2006 version is relatively tame compared to the original. While the 1973 film freely mixed pornographic elements with horror themes and musical numbers, the new film confines itself to horror, abandoning that strange mixture of genres that made Anthony Shaffer's film a cult classic. While LaBute's film adds a back-story and romantic interest, it requires equal suspension of disbelief. Despite their differences, both films end in the same disturbing way, leaving an indelible image that may haunt viewers long after the credits roll. [More]

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Ellen Burstyn, Molly Parker, Leelee Sobieski

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Ellen Burstyn, Molly Parker, Leelee Sobieski, Frances Conroy, Kate Beahan, Diane Delano, Michael Wiseman, Erika-Shaye Gair

Director: Neil LaBute

Director: Neil LaBute
Screenwriter: Neil LaBute
Producer: Nicolas Cage, Randall Emmett, Avi Lerner
Composer: Angelo Badalamenti
Producer: Nicolas Cage
Studio: Warner Bros.

[See More Credits]

  • Trailers
  • Pictures
1 - 5 of 13

See More Movie Trailers & Pictures

Get This Movie

Rent DVD
 
 

Click on the "ADD" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.

 
 
Buy DVD
 
 
Release:

Jan 30, 2007

No Details Exist
 
 

Reviews for The Wicker Man

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
 
 
21 - 40 (sorted by date)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

Neil LaBute's remake of the British horror classic is as wooden as its titular effigy... and wholly unnecessary.

Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment Comment
09/23/06
David N. Butterworth
David N. Butterworth
rec.arts.movies.reviews

The '73 film is brilliantly constructed and ends with a punctuation mark that was shocking in its day. LaBute's movie attempts to shock, as well, and does: Given the names involved and the casting of Cage, it is shockingly bad.

Full Review Source: New York Daily News | comment Comment
09/23/06
Jack Mathews
Jack Mathews
New York Daily News
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Part of the original's effectiveness derived from the main character, whose strong religious convictions were ultimately used against him in the most sinister of ways, a dimension the new film is sorely lacking.

Full Review Source: Q Network Film Desk | comment Comment
09/23/06
James Kendrick
James Kendrick
Q Network Film Desk

Nearly all of what made the 1973 film such an unforgettable cinematic experience is lost in translation.

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
09/23/06
Marc Savlov
Marc Savlov
Austin Chronicle

Cage lumbers around in full-on shouty mode and his character is never particularly likeable ... whilst decent actresses like Frances Conroy and Ellen Burstyn are given very little to do beyond trying to keep a straight face.

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment 1 Comment
09/23/06
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon

Neil LaBute’s utterly misconceived remake of Robin Hardy’s 1973 cult horror film is a boring, fright-free catastrophe.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
09/23/06
Nigel Floyd
Nigel Floyd
Time Out

The blatancy of the outcome siphons any intended suspense, already padded by an overbearingly atmospheric score.

Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
09/16/06
Annlee Ellingson
Annlee Ellingson
Boxoffice Magazine

I've seen many ill-advised horror remakes in my time. The Wicker Man may be the worst ever.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
09/16/06
Rob Gonsalves
Rob Gonsalves
eFilmCritic.com

This film falls into the 'good wierd' catagory-even if you don't care for it, you will love telling people about it.

Full Review Source: Spectrum (St. George, Utah) | comment Comment
09/15/06
Bruce Bennett
Bruce Bennett
Spectrum (St. George, Utah)

A castration-anxiety companion piece to 'The Da Vinci Code,' only this time the 'suppression of the female' is responsible for a murderous island cult of goddess-worshipping honey harvesters...

Full Review Source: Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN) | comment Comment
09/15/06
John Beifuss
John Beifuss
Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)

Neil LaBute's remake is a disastrous miscalculation, shucking religion completely and instead fashioning the tale as a battle between upstanding male dominance and wicked feminist doctrine.

Full Review Source: Creative Loafing | comment Comment
09/14/06
Matt Brunson
Matt Brunson
Creative Loafing

Let's just say that sometimes the best-laid plans of mice and men -- and movie-makers -- go up in smoke.

Full Review Source: Boulder Weekly | comment Comment
09/13/06
Thomas Delapa
Thomas Delapa
Boulder Weekly

So hilarious it's entertaining, "The Wicker Man" is fairly aflame with ridiculous moments.

Full Review Source: Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) | comment Comment
09/08/06
Linda Cook
Linda Cook
Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)

so bad that it’s scary.

Full Review Source: Sean the Movie Guy | comment Comment
09/08/06
Sean McBride
Sean McBride
Sean the Movie Guy

The Wicker Man occupies some silly, nebulous middle ground between mystery and horror.

Full Review Source: Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA) | comment Comment
09/08/06
John Wirt
John Wirt
Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA)

Rotten, risible, rubbish. One of the year's worst films.

Full Review Source: Bangor Daily News (Maine) | comment Comment
09/08/06
Christopher Smith
Christopher Smith
Bangor Daily News (Maine)

...doesn't much bother with such niceties as a credible creed or an internally consistent plot.

Full Review Source: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette | comment Comment
09/08/06
Philip Martin
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

I may be alone in this -- and you'll have to give it the benefit of a lot of doubt -- but I thought it was interesting.

Full Review Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press | comment Comment
09/07/06
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
St. Paul Pioneer Press

Despite retaining significant chunks of Shaffer's dialogue to go along with the basic story structure, LaBute has transformed the eerie, disturbing psychological thriller into an unintentional comedy.

Full Review Source: ReelViews | comment Comment
09/07/06
James Berardinelli
James Berardinelli
ReelViews
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The plot is nonsensical but the cast and Edenic setting is worth a look.

Full Review Source: Christian Science Monitor | comment Comment
09/07/06
M. K. Terrell
M. K. Terrell
Christian Science Monitor
 
 
21 - 40 (sorted by date)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 >> >|
all

Latest News for The Wicker Man

October 17, 2007: Nicolas Cage Joins The Vanished
Focus Features has arranged for Nicolas Cage to join the ranks of The Vanished. More...

September 05, 2007: Nicolas Cage Is Magnum P.I.?
Add another name to the list of actors rumored to be up for the title role in Universal's long-threatened Magnum P.I. adaptation. More...

August 30, 2007: Box Office Guru Preview: Halloween Strikes on the 31st
The four-billion-dollar-plus summer comes to a close over the long Labor Day holiday weekend with three new wide releases all targeting male moviegoers. Slasher fans get to... More...

January 23, 2007: Razzie Nominations Announced!
The Golden Raspberry Award Foundation has issued its annual press release announcing the latest batch of Razzie nominees. In an ever-more-crowded field of bad scripts, bad... More...

See All

More DVDs

Close
Top Rentals
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
44% 44% Night at the Museum: B…
32% 32% Terminator Salvation
36% 36% Angels & Demons
95% 95% Star Trek
25% 25% Four Christmases

More Rentals…

New On DVD This Week
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
88% 88% Inglourious Basterds
78% 78% The Hangover
49% 49% Taking Woodstock
26% 26% The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard
47% 47% The Girl From Monaco

More New Releases…

See All

RT On Current TV

The Rotten Tomatoes Show on Current TV

DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196 | More...

Learn how you can be part of the show

More...

What’s Hot On RT

James Cameron

James Cameron

We look at the Avatar director's career

Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland

Check out the brand new trailer now!

Golden Globes

Golden Globes

Up in the Air leads with 6 noms!

Nominee Gallery

Nominee Gallery

See who got nominated for Golden Globes!

Other News

Close
  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • How Avatar Happened: The Path to Innovation Source: CinemaBlend.com
15
  • Rob Marshall Says Pirates 4 Is Still a Maybe Source: ComingSoon.net
24
  • ET Teases Iron Man 2 Teaser Source: Collider.com
27
  • Tobey Maguire Refutes Hobbit Rumors Source: Hollywood Reporter
8
  • Prince of Persia Featurette Posted Source: Yahoo! Movies
4
  • Trailer Bulletin: Robin Hood Source: ComingSoon.net
60
  • Mel Gibson Plans a Mexican Vacation Source: Variety
8
  • New Iron Man 2 Clue Posted Source: Screen Rant
26
  • Gibson and DiCaprio are Going Norse Source: HitFix
78
  • Lord of the Rings Coming to Blu-ray April 6 Source: Hollywood Reporter
8
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Tomatometer Watch: Will Avatar Live Up To The Hype?
236
  • Awards Tour 2009: Golden Globe Noms Here!
137
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Girlpower Rules Again with Princess at #1
70
  • Awards Tour 2009: Inglourious Basterds Lead Critics Choice Noms
43
  • Awards Tour 2009: Avatar Best Picture at NYFCO!
38
  • The Gimmicks That Changed Cinema: Part 1
37
  • Weekly Ketchup: James Cameron Plans a Fantastic Voyage
33
  • The Effects of Where the Wild Things Are
30
  • Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview
21
  • Critics Consensus: Princess, Invictus Are Certified Fresh
21
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview
21
  • Director Ruben Fleischer Talks Zombieland
2
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
17
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
12
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
23
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
8
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
15
  • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
23
  • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
9
  • Wolverine Creator Len Wein Talks About the Film
28
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • The Wicker Man at Rotten Tomatoes
  • The Wicker Man at AskMen

Fresh Links

Featured
Best Sci-Fi This Decade
Best Sci-Fi This Decade External Link

Techland lists the best Sci-Fi films of this decade.

40 Worst Films of the 2000s
40 Worst Films of the 2000s External Link

Moviefone takes a look back at the biggest stinkers of the past 10 years.

10 Questions For Zac Efron
10 Questions For Zac Efron External Link

The Me and Orson Welles star answers reader questions on TIME.com.

Best Decade Ever!
Best Decade Ever! External Link

Hollywood.com's C. Robert Cargill offers his thoughts on what the best decade for film was.

Pee-Wee's Big Adventure
Pee-Wee's Big Adventure External Link

In the AV Club's "Scenic Routes," Mike D'Angelo reminisces about the Tim Burton film.

Promos
Follow RT on Twitter
Follow RT on Twitter External Link

Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Games| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.