First off, I have to say I did like the original WICKER MAN and I
haven't seen the widely panned remake starring Nicolas Cage. However, it makes me wonder if watching the remake would
be less painful to watch (for Mr. Cage's acting and hair) than watching the sequel (to the original) which is worthy
of Mystery Science Theater 3000. THE WICKER TREE is a confused and garbled mess which can't decide what type
of movie it wants to be until the final 30 minutes. It starts out as a Christian movie and a Country Music movie before
deciding to become a Poor Naive Strangers in the United Kingdom (or a Pagan Land) before deciding it really wants to be about
Crazy Pagan Sacrifice. I really did want to turn off the movie several times and I even fast forwarded through
a couple of scenes. Hopefully, my review will tell you to avoid or approach the sequel with caution. Even though
Robin Hardy (who directed the original movie) is directing the sequel, I do think he should have let someone else write the
movie. Christopher Lee's cameo is in a flashback for one of the characters (and obviously shot against a green screen
(which the featurette does show he was shot against a green screen). I wonder who decided financing this movie
was a good idea. THE WICKER TREE does make my worst of the year list.
THE WICK TREE
starts with two born again Christians (from Texas) who travel to the Scottish lowlands to spread the word of God only to get
involved with a pagan community who bring temptation and horror. The pagan culture is very tied to the Goddess
religion and sacrifice. They make the woman (a Country Western star) the May Queen while her finance is the Laddie
as part of Tressock, Scotland's May Day celebrations.
THE WICKER TREE
sometimes come off as a bad TV movie/ bad episode of Monarch of the Glen while many of the music choices
feel out of place and many of the characters are really one dimensional. Some call it a sequel while some
will see it as a re-imagining of the original. Christopher Lee was originally slated to star in the sequel, but he got
injured while filming another movie and the part was recast to be played by the young Graham McTavish. I don't
think THE WICKER TREE succeeds as a sequel. Instead it is an awful mishmash of several different
genres paired with a bad script.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
THE MAKING OF THE WICKER TREE is a 12 minute promotional featurette which is best left to
watch after you made it through the film since it does offer many spoilers about the climax.
Nine deleted scenes show material thankfully cut out of the film while the final deleted scene I wish
they left in instead of the country music montage they included the scene in. Also on the disc are the the trailer and
previews for other Anchor Bay Entertainment releases.
FINAL ANALYSIS:
THE WICKER TREE is an awful sequel which should only be viewed if you want to mock it like Mystery Science Theater 3000
or use it as part of a drinking game. Avoid it and watch/ re-watch THE WICKER MAN (the original) instead.
this DVD review is (c)4-25-2012 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission. send all comments
to feedback@enterline-media.com
