Edward falls into a subterranean pool where he comes across a submerged statue of Jesus. In another scene, a teacher asks her girl students, “What is man in his purest form” and the girls give the answer they have been taught, “Phallic symbol, phallic symbol, phallic symbol.”
Even if the film is not deliberately expressing these sentiments, it is still exploiting them. Those of us in the audience are clearly expected to react negatively to all of this. We’re supposed to share Edward’s point of view. Neil Labute does not seem like the sort of director who would endorse these positions. Yet they are in the film. Why?
Interestingly, the main character in the 1973 original (which I have read about but not seen) is presented as a Christian whose faith conflicts with the nature worship of the inhabitants of the island. Moreover, the earlier film depicted an island ruled over by a man, not by women. In this more recent version, the Christianity is sublimated into the mood, characterizations, and dialogue.
I am no advocate for Wiccans and other paganists. But they are harmless. To suggest that they and feminists are somehow one and the same, interchangeable, is ridiculous. To imply that feminism’s attack on patriarchic social institutions has undermined and endangered our world is preposterous. Yet The Wicker Man makes these arguments and vilifies those who choose alternative paths by presenting them as a danger.
The one positive element in this film is the setting, a beautiful island — in the film it sits off the Washington state coast but in reality it is near Vancouver in British Columbia. The film exploits the exotic and remote scenery effectively. But it’s not much of a film.
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Article comments
1 - Happy
I'm so glad I found a review that supports my feeling of the film! This film is so anti-feminist it scares me (being a woman). I'm not a feminist myself, but I also hate films or people that shout, "Look what happens if women rule the world!!"
Being bothered by this so much, I have to check the original film to see if this is really the hidden meaning. By having Christopher Lee as Lord Summerilse and the producer's anti-woman portrayal in his other films, maybe this is his own spices added in.
I have to agree that the film is bad taste, but the storyline overall still bothers me so much that I don't think I want to watch the original even if I have the chance.
2 - joe momma
i gotta hand this movie 2 thumbs up the directors ass. i was so abhorrently traumatized by this movie that it directly affected my sex life in a very negative way. i had to find somewhere to go and lay down some serious hate for this movie. id like to find someone to sue for putting together trash of this nature. i feel traumatized after watching that movie, being a man. that movie was mental abuse for men.
i am no christian, nor a pagan. i am a simple athiest. this movie will warp the minds of the weak in a sad way.
the real horror of this movie: it is unfortunate that our society has such a hard time distinguishing reality from television. i love a good horror film. but this was a pathetic attempt at best. the only horrifying thing that comes to my mind is all the lame brain cable tv watchers that might agree with some aspect of this film.
to the women who felt empowered by this film... a big dunce hat for all of you.
man and woman are alike and equal, balanced and proportioned in all aspects. on an individual level there are bound to be differences but those differences are what make men and women a good team, when devoted to eachother. equality is a good thing. im always in favor of women's liberation...especially when its not in their favor ;).
warren-g called sommer isle, he said hes on his way with snoop, ice-t, easy-e, 50 cent and all the pimpin posse to throw down and regulate those biatches with some good ol' fashioned bitch shut the fuck up until its time for you to do something productive. "re-productive".
ok i feel better now.
no wait... ,,!,, dude. how could you commit such an act of treason on your own kind?
3 - Nigel Thorn Rose Tree
All i have to say is watch the original, it rules and apparently the original print was buried under a british motorway????
4 - Petee
I think this is a great film and acts as a warning about the concentration of power in the hands of a small sector. In this case, yes, females or feminists. Why do some women find this such a difficult concept? Women have great capacity for evil too. To believe the "sugar and spice and all things nice" mantra is very childish.