The Wicker Man Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Nic Cage, allergic to bees and logic, investigates a missing girl on an island full of aggressive feminist beekeepers and ends up screaming about bees in a wicker cage.

🍿 The Wicker Man: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Introduction: A Troubled Officer

The film opens with Edward Malus, a troubled California Highway Patrol officer haunted by a past trauma. He receives a cryptic letter from his former fiancée, Willow, requesting his assistance in locating her missing daughter, Rowan, on a secluded island named Summersisle. Driven by a sense of duty and a connection to his past, Malus agrees to investigate.

The Island’s Secrets

Upon arriving on Summersisle, Malus encounters a strange, matriarchal society with neo-pagan beliefs and customs. The islanders are evasive and uncooperative, hindering his investigation at every turn. He discovers unsettling clues, including animal sacrifices and ritualistic practices, suggesting a dark undercurrent to the idyllic facade. Malus becomes increasingly frustrated by the lack of transparency and the islanders’ strange behavior.

The Ritual Unveiled

Malus eventually uncovers the truth: Rowan is intended as a human sacrifice to appease the island’s gods and ensure a bountiful harvest. The islanders believe that a sacrifice is necessary to restore their failing honey production. He also learns that his arrival was orchestrated, and he has been lured to the island as the ultimate sacrifice.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Edward Malus (Nicolas Cage): A troubled police officer drawn to a secluded island community in search of a missing girl, only to uncover a disturbing pagan ritual.
• Sister Summersisle (Ellen Burstyn): The matriarchal leader of the island’s neo-pagan society, orchestrating ancient traditions and maintaining a secretive control.
• Willow Woodward (Kate Beahan): Edward’s former fiancée whose mysterious plea for help lures him to the island and into a deadly trap.
• Sister Honey (Leelee Sobieski): A key figure in the island’s honey production, potentially with involvement in dark secrets, adding to the unsettling atmosphere.
• Rowan (Erika-Shaye Gair): The missing girl whose disappearance triggers the investigation and ultimately serves a crucial role in the island’s ritualistic practices.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Edward Malus: “How’d it get burned?!” – Cage shouts this line repeatedly in a high-pitched voice after discovering a burned doll, becoming a widely mocked and memed moment.
• Edward Malus: “Step away from the bike!” – Malus yells this absurdly while attempting to commandeer a bicycle, showcasing the film’s unintentional comedic tone.
• Edward Malus: “Oh, no, not the bees! Not the bees! They’re in my eyes!” – Malus screams in agony while being tortured with bees, the most iconic and frequently parodied line from the movie.
• Sister Summersisle: “The drone must die!” – Sister Summersisle chillingly declares this during the Wicker Man sacrifice ritual, solidifying the island’s matriarchal and ritualistic nature.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $40,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $23,649,127
• Worldwide Gross: $38,806,015

💥 The Wicker Man Reviews

Personal Review

Oh my god, this movie! I went in expecting a creepy thriller, but I got something else entirely. The “Not the bees!” scene is so over the top that I couldn’t stop laughing. It’s so hilariously bad that it’s now a guilty pleasure. While I appreciate the setting on the island, everything else seemed a bit off. I definitely think this movie is worth seeing if you want a good laugh.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of so-bad-it’s-good movies”
  • “Viewers interested in cult films”
  • “Nicolas Cage enthusiasts (for his memorable performance)”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Violence”
  • “Disturbing pagan rituals”
  • “Brief nudity”
  • “Thematic elements of human sacrifice”

Professional Reviews

• Rotten Tomatoes: “A misguided remake of a cult classic, *The Wicker Man* substitutes suspense and atmosphere with unintentional humor and Nicolas Cage’s over-the-top performance. The movie felt disjointed with terrible acting and a silly premise. One can walk away feeling insulted by the product.
• Film Critic: “Neil LaBute’s take on *The Wicker Man* is a complete disaster. Nicolas Cage’s performance is laughably bad, the plot is nonsensical, and the film fails to capture the chilling atmosphere of the original. This remake is an insult to the source material and a waste of time.

Audience Reactions

Nicolas Cage’s bizarre performance provided unexpected comedic moments.: The unintentional humor makes it a memorable, if not good, movie experience.

Overall Consensus: Generally panned by critics and audiences alike, *The Wicker Man* (2006) is considered a poorly executed remake that relies on unintentional humor rather than genuine suspense or horror.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Robin Hardy, director of the original 1973 film, publicly disowned the remake and requested his name be removed from the credits.”
• “Nicolas Cage reportedly pitched the idea for the remake himself after being ‘disturbed’ by the original film for two weeks.”
• “The film’s production involved multiple countries, including the United States, Mexico, Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Wicker Man?

The 2006 remake of ‘The Wicker Man,’ starring Nicolas Cage, is available for rent or purchase on platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu. Check local listings for availability on streaming services and cable providers. As of now, it is not included with any major streaming subscriptions.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Wicker Man, you might like these similar films:

• The Wicker Man (1973): The original and superior version, offering a genuinely unsettling pagan mystery.
• Midsommar (2019): Features a disturbing pagan cult and escalating horror during a Swedish midsummer festival, resonating with similar themes of ritualistic sacrifice and manipulation.
• The Village (2004): Explores an isolated community with dark secrets and bizarre rituals, sharing a sense of paranoia and hidden truths.
• Apostle (2018): A man journeys to a remote island to rescue his sister from a sinister cult, evoking a similar sense of dread and discovery of gruesome practices.

🛒 The Wicker Man Related Products

• The Wicker Man (1973) [Blu-ray]: Experience the original and far superior version of *The Wicker Man* on Blu-ray. This classic horror film is a must-have for any serious collector and provides a stark contrast to the remake.
• Funko Pop! Movies: Horror – Nicolas Cage Wicker Man: Commemorate Nicolas Cage’s iconic performance in *The Wicker Man* with this Funko Pop! figure. A perfect gag gift or ironic addition to any collection.
• Bee Movie (DVD): While not directly related to *The Wicker Man*, Bee Movie offers a humorous and light-hearted take on bees, providing a comedic contrast to the horror elements associated with them in the film. The movie follows the adventures of Barry B. Benson, a bee who decides to sue the human race for exploiting bees.

🎧 Soundtrack

The Wicker Man features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Carnival Of Bones” – performed by Paescod
• “Traditional (Thoinot Arbeau-1589)” – performed by Arranged by Aaron Catlow, Mike Edwards, Phil Howard, Julia Laycock

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Everything Wrong With The Wicker Man In 16 Minutes Or Less

Ever wondered just *how* bad ‘The Wicker Man’ remake really is? CinemaSins breaks down all the movie’s sins in this hilarious video. It’s so bad, it’s good… to laugh at!

Not the Bees – Nic Cage in The Wicker Man

Remember the “Not the Bees!” scene? This short clip captures the sheer absurdity and meme-worthy brilliance of Nic Cage’s performance. It is so cringy that you can’t help but watch!

The Wicker Man – Comedy Trailer

Think ‘The Wicker Man’ is unintentionally hilarious? This comedy trailer proves it by recutting the film. See if you can watch it without laughing!

Analyzing Evil: Lord Summer Isle And His Flock From The Wicker Man

Want to understand the true mastermind behind the madness in ‘The Wicker Man’? Check out this character analysis of Lord Summerisle. The video is a deep dive into the film’s cult leader and the film.

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