The Wicker Man (PG-13)

Horror remake about murderous cult. Not for kids.

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Common Sense rates it
2
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Movie details
  • Studio: Warner Bros., Warner Bros.
  • Directed By: Neil LaBute
  • Cast: Ellen Burstyn, Nicolas Cage
  • Running Time: 097 minutes
  • Release Date: 09/01/2006
  • Video/DVD Release Date: 12/19/2006
  • Genre: Horror
  • MPAA Rating: PG-13
  • MPAA Explanation: disturbing images and violence, language and thematic issues

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that the plot sets up an agrarian cult of women who sacrifice humans and animals to a "fertility goddess." The eventual sacrifice is harrowing, as the victim is dragged, beaten, tied up, and burned to death (this scene is potentially scary for kids, as it uses sounds and blackouts). The film begins with a violent accident, in which a car with a mother and child inside is slammed by a truck and catches fire; this scene repeats as the witness/cop suffers flashbacks throughout the film. Island women menace the cop, who responds by pulling his gun and eventually fighting them physically. The cop discovers a dead body with bloody eyes (in close-up). Several tense scenes and arguments. One f-word; assorted other profanities.

Families can talk about the functions of cults in popular culture. How is Edward an ideal victim for this group, as he wants to "help people"? Why might it be significant that the women are associated with "fertility"? Why are horror movies so popular in general?

Message

Social Behavior:

Women in cult appear to subjugate "their" men and set up Edward for human sacrifice; Edward tries to "help people," but ends up easily fooled by ex-fiancée.

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Cop smokes cigarette; Edward takes prescription drugs following his trauma; he drinks "mead" ("honey, herbs, and whatnot"); extras drink in bar.

Violence

Car smashed by a truck in front of Edward, then bursts into flames (he sees versions of this trauma repeatedly, as flashbacks); Edward finds a bloodied corpse; Edward pulls his gun on a girl to get her bike; Edward is allergic to bees and attacked by a swarm, leaving him swollen, unconscious, near dead; Edward fights with several women near end, kicking and slamming them into walls and to the floor; Edward is beset by a swarm of women, bloodied, beaten, and tied up; Edward is set on fire (by a little girl) and screams as he burns to death (from a distance, his figure is recognizable).

Sex

Schoolgirls recite that men represent a "phallic symbol" island women seek to perform a "fertility ritual" a couple kisses (standing and clothed).

Language

One f-word, plus several instances of "s--t," "hell," and "damn."

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Cynthia Fuchs

Neil LaBute's remake of a 1973 cult favorite begins as California traffic cop Edward Malus (Nicolas Cage) tries to help a woman and her young blond daughter on the highway, only to see them smashed and burned in a terrible car accident. Traumatized, he suffers nightmares and an unidentified nervous condition for which he takes prescription pills; this makes him ill-equipped to deal with a new case, namely, the missing daughter of his ex-fiancée, Willow (Kate Beahan). Yet, he finds a way to the isolated island where she lives among a community of bee-keeping women led by Sister Summersisle (Ellen Burstyn) and endeavors to locate little Rowan (Erika-Shaye Gair).

Is it any good?

2

THE WICKER MAN might best be described as one man's hysteria. Edward means well, insisting that he wants to "help people." But his efforts only lead him into trouble with a cult of malevolent women who outsmart him at every turn. With a softness that is both emotional and physical (he's allergic to bees, and rendered unconscious more than once), Edward is increasingly afraid and chaotic in his affect and appearance. But he's stuck, an unusual man forced to be usual (his last ditch efforts to fight the women physically are so overstated that they seem comic). Although he's initially a sensitive man who wants to be heroic, Edward is stuck inside a retro gender dynamic: evil women versus inept men.

Deducing that Rowan has been kidnapped and will be sacrificed at an upcoming fertility ritual, he makes a series of predictable choices, bicycling heroically from site to site in search of evidence, but, as he puts it, "Every time I turn my head, there's something that doesn't make any sense." Exactly.

Other choices

The Wicker Man (1973)
The Village

The Exorcism of Emily Rose

Vampire's Kiss

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Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 8 reviews.

1


Posted on 06/02/08 by Bre-aka-movie-genius Kid contributor, age 13

Shouldn't even been made

This movie was seriously the worst movie i have ever seen.I think this movie should never have been made. It was stupid, weird, and just plain right wrong. The idea in this movie was where this community of women believed in an island goddess and the women find men and get pregnant with them. Then they trick the men into believing that they are going to sacrifice there daughters but there actually trying to sacrifice the men.Now is that something you would want to watch i dont think so. So take my word for it and dont buy or watch this stupid movie. You'll regret it. Im sure i do.
2


Posted on 03/03/07 by directerdude123 Kid contributor, age 13

BORD

I could not keep track of what was happining. The enging of the movie through off the hole movie and made it TERRIBLE ! ! ! ! ! !
1


Posted on 02/13/07 by b-ball Kid contributor, age 12

I wish i never watched this.

The begining and middle was great. It was easy to get caught up and want to wach. But the end was HORIBLE. I was angry about how it ended. I advise you to DO NOT WATCH THIS!!!!
1


Posted on 02/08/07 by grimroxx Kid contributor, age 13

2


Posted on 12/30/06 by MikaylaLovesEdwardCullen Kid contributor, age 11

This movie was horrable! I don't recomend it to anyone! Two stars is a generous rating!
0

Posted on 11/12/06 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 16

a waste of my life.

i seriously wouldn't even bother with this movie. dont waste yourmoney on it. its the worst. the whole plot was bad and so was everything else. i hated it to be honest. i almost fell asleep.
Age 13+
2

Posted on 10/17/06 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Waste of time

Aside from this movie being semi-inappropriate, it was just bad. It portrays men as evil or mindless, does little to provide insight on parts of plot (or lack thereof), and has scenes that aren't tied to the rest of the movie.
Age 17+
1


Posted on 09/05/06 by GeorgiaPeachie Adult contributor

See all 8 reviews >

Adult Reviews

There are 2 reviews.

Age 13+
2

Posted on 10/17/06 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Waste of time

Aside from this movie being semi-inappropriate, it was just bad. It portrays men as evil or mindless, does little to provide insight on parts of plot (or lack thereof), and has scenes that aren't tied to the rest of the movie.
Age 17+
1


Posted on 09/05/06 by GeorgiaPeachie Adult contributor

Kids Reviews

There are 6 reviews.

1


Posted on 06/02/08 by Bre-aka-movie-genius Kid contributor, age 13

Shouldn't even been made

This movie was seriously the worst movie i have ever seen.I think this movie should never have been made. It was stupid, weird, and just plain right wrong. The idea in this movie was where this community of women believed in an island goddess and the women find men and get pregnant with them. Then they trick the men into believing that they are going to sacrifice there daughters but there actually trying to sacrifice the men.Now is that something you would want to watch i dont think so. So take my word for it and dont buy or watch this stupid movie. You'll regret it. Im sure i do.
2


Posted on 03/03/07 by directerdude123 Kid contributor, age 13

BORD

I could not keep track of what was happining. The enging of the movie through off the hole movie and made it TERRIBLE ! ! ! ! ! !
1


Posted on 02/13/07 by b-ball Kid contributor, age 12

I wish i never watched this.

The begining and middle was great. It was easy to get caught up and want to wach. But the end was HORIBLE. I was angry about how it ended. I advise you to DO NOT WATCH THIS!!!!
1


Posted on 02/08/07 by grimroxx Kid contributor, age 13

2


Posted on 12/30/06 by MikaylaLovesEdwardCullen Kid contributor, age 11

This movie was horrable! I don't recomend it to anyone! Two stars is a generous rating!
0

Posted on 11/12/06 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 16

a waste of my life.

i seriously wouldn't even bother with this movie. dont waste yourmoney on it. its the worst. the whole plot was bad and so was everything else. i hated it to be honest. i almost fell asleep.
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132 votes