Woodyanders Review of The Wicker Man Enigma

The Wicker Man Enigma (2001 Video)

Excellent and informative retrospective documentary

[9/10 · 6 March 2015]

This 35-minute retrospective documentary offers a real compelling and illuminating chronicle on the making of and troubled distribution history behind the legendary early 70's British horror gem "The Wicker Man." Screenwriter Anthony Schaffer discusses how he got the idea for the premise from researching ancient pagan sacrificial rites and wanted to write a horror script that was a radical departure from standard Hammer horror fare. Christopher Lee reveals that the plum part of Lord Summerisle was specifically written for him and he loved the role so much that he acted in the film for free. Director Robin Hardy saw the movie as a musical and thus decided to have as many music numbers as possible included in the picture. Ingrid Pitt refused to wear a coat in between camera set-ups for the climax out of respect to the extras who wear all freezing in the extreme cold (although this movie takes place in the spring, it was shot in the bitter cold months of October and November!). Edward Woodard reveals that the goats above him in the wicker statue got so scared that they urinated on him. The most alarming and fascinating portion of this doc centers on how this movie was severely cut during its initial release and the shocking story about the negative being buried underneath a major highway in Great Britain. We also find out that Peter Cushing was initially approached to play Sergeant Howie, locals in Scotland were cast as extras, and Roger Corman expressed interest in releasing the movie in America in the 1970's. Fortunately, a restored version of the film was reissued in the early 1980's to great acclaim and the movie has gone on to achieve a well-deserved substantial cult status. Essential viewing for fans of the film.