The Wicker Tree

source: The Wicker Tree

The Wicker Tree

So the director of "Wicker Man" does a movie called Wicker Tree almost 40 years after the original movie. Just a coincidence? Maybe he needed the money. What we do know, is that he made this one different. And while "companion piece" is the phrase to use with this, you could argue that quality wise, it is a demise. Still while the horror is almost completely absent (replaced by "humor", if you can find yourself being amused that is), people who loved the original will be intrigued enough to watch this. Unfortunately that might cause them to re-evaluate the Original as well. And it might take away from a movie that actually could and should have been the successor of Wicker Man (also released in 2011 and also playing at Frightfest in London). As it is, it will depend on your take on comedy, to define if you like this or not ... Beautifully shot, but lacking in other departments ...

This film in a capsule. First 60 minutes: Bad country singing. Lots of Bible bashing. Dodgy Scottish accents ahoy. Awful acting, even from the extras. Gratuitous nudity in a bed. Gratuitous nudity in a stream. A LOT of pointless talking. Christopher Lee in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo. I'm sure there was more, but I must have nodded off. Last 30 minutes: Hey-ho, things are looking up. A cat just drunk some poisoned milk. (sniff,sniff). And look, here's an American girl shoving a bit of broken glass up a Scotsman's kilt. Ho, ho. And there's her cowboy boyfriend, being devoured by a bunch of naked cannibals. FINGER LICK'IN GOOD!! And don't forget about the... Oh, who am I trying to kid... it's just dreadful twaddle. It makes The Wicker Man from 1973 look like The Greatest Film Ever and the 2006 remake of that movie... well, let's not go crazy now... 3/10

Difficult to describe just how bad this attempt to bring up to date the Wicker Man story is without totally dissecting it and going into detail, but frankly it's just not worth that kind effort. Some of the acting is okay - though the two American leads are both pretty poor - and the direction is competent, that's all the positives done and dusted ! The storyline doesn't work very well, the music is absolutely woeful and completely wrong - unlike in the Wicker Man where it was perfect and added greatly to the atmosphere - and the sense of realism you get from the original is totally missing here. The film feels and looks a bit like a fairly low budget Hollywood remake, a real surprise considering they were both made by the same director. I'm not going to waste any more time and energy on this very poor effort, except to say that it's only highlight for me was a comedy scene and if you love the truly classic Wicker Man, do yourself a big favour and stay well away from the Wicker Tree !