This blog entry is part of my "movie year countdown round #2". Read more about that here.
The Wicker Man
I had a lot of people recommend this movie to me. I was told not to read anything about it before seeing it. Of course I inadvertently ran across some information, but nothing that really "ruined" it.
I do think it is kind of dangerous to hear such things about a movie before you see it. You are expecting to be really shocked by something, so instead of just watching the movie normally when the shock comes you have already prepared yourself for it. And actually usually the shock never measures up because you spend so much time inventing all kinds of strange conclusions as it rolls along that what ends up happening is never as strange as what you had the time to come up with in your head in the meanwhile. That was pretty much the case for me with this movie. Although I did not anticipate some of the specifics (and there are a few shocking images), I was ready for something beyond sinister, so I wasn't as affected as much as maybe I should have been.
I won't list too many specifics here just in case you are still planning on seeing for the first time yourself, but here are some of my other reactions for those of you who have seen it. I was expecting to really be shocked and horrified. But really I was more aggravated and annoyed, towards all of the characters really. The main character made a lot of stupid mistakes. *possible spoiler* Why on earth did he come alone? And in such an unreliable little airplane??
Maybe the filmmakers actually did the most admirable job they could with the story they came up with. Neil LaBute tried remaking the movie recently and if you've seen it, or just seen some of the "best of" clips of it on youtube you can realize just how silly the story and premise can quickly become.
I can't say I hated it, but I can't really pass on the recommendation. Sorry to those who recommended it to me.
Rating: 6/10