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Police Edward Malus (Nicolas
Cage) unexpectedly receives a letter from ex-fiancée Willow (Kate Beahan) asking him for help to find her 7 year old missing daughter Rowan. Willing to help, he goes to the remote
island where Willow lives and finds the people strange. Most of the inhabitants are women who seem to have a run of the place while the few men are morose, practically mute
and confined to hard tasks. Edward passes around Rowan's picture but nobody knows her. However, he uncovers facts that show Rowan is in the island. Revealing
that Rowan is his child, Willow warns him to be careful. But Edward has life threatening experiences while searching for Rowan.
Edward realizes the island has no telephones (cellphones don't work). Moreover, there seems to be something mysterious afoot in the island as he hears about rituals and burnt offerings from the "sisters" of the cult community, especially from their spiritual leader called Sister Summersisle (Ellen Burstym). Edward suspects Rowan will be "sacrificed" in their festival. Will he be able to save her or some other victim? Will Edward get away safely?
Except for a few pleasant juvenile tales like Stevenson's Treasure Island or
Defoe's Robinson Crusoe, a lot of stories set in remote, isolated islands usually take on the darker hues of horror and suspense thrillers, where the viewer feels the
characters are trapped or doomed. The Wicker Man
(2006) is this kind of story. It ironically happens in the beautiful, virginal island called Summer isle, so expertly photographed one is likely to fall in love with it at first sight. But as the slow paced story unfolds, portentous details are revealed, the mystery deepens and there is effective build up of a sinister atmosphere. There is also a heightening of suspense, till the end. The movie uses symbols. For instance, the extensive field of beehives subtly suggest the matriarchal society in the island colony since the bees have a mother Bee and a subservient male population. For a cop, Nicolas Cage's character seems so obtuse that he is unaware of the danger he is in, though ironically the audience may have a strong inkling. Cage's acting is adequate so is Ellen Burstyn's and the rest of the cast.
Based on Anthony Shaffer's novel, The Wicker Man 2006
is the (second film version) and differently recreated by Director La Bute from the first film adaptation in 1973. This present version has negative values that Christians cannot accept. The film demeans the dignity of men who are depicted as nothing more than objects used for breeding and hard labor. There is no affection or filial piety between father and child. Worse, the child is taught to hurt the father and made to feel good about it. The character who has the generosity of heart is not appreciated. Instead, he is wronged. The film be seen only by viewers with some maturity in order to be able to put in the proper context the pagan fertility ritual of human sacrifice. Though 14 years old, some may yet need guidance to realize that at no time is the murder of a person right no matter what the reason. Human sacrifice is condemned by the Church and rightly so.
(Date Reviewed: 08 September 2006)
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