Posted on: May 5, 2012 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

 

Simply put, The Wicker Tree is much better than The Wicker Man. This is a messed up film, and I mean that in the best possible way. The Wicker Tree focuses on two faithful Christians (Henry Garrett and Brittania Nicol) and their trip to Scotland. Deciding to take a small amount of time in Tressock, these two have their lives turned upside down. Everything seems to be on the level at first, as the couple are invited to be the Queen and Laddie for the town’s annual celebration.

As the film goes on, the sheer depravity of the inhabitants of Tressock is shown. The faith of the couple is challenged through temptation and outright offenses to Christianity.

I applaud the director for providing Garrett and Nicol a chance to shine in lead roles. This allows the story to shine, while providing viewers with an early glimpse of whom may be the darlings of Hollywood in the years and decades to come. Hints of thriller, horror, and philosophical genres can all be found here; this eclectic film will have viewers watching it over and over until they glean a proper understanding for the style.

Pick up a copy of The Wicker Tree from either brick & mortar or online retailers; it is considerably better than its predecessor. Follies of the church are examined in detail; while this may be a little bit of a simplification of Christianity, it brings up valid points that should be considered by anyone that finds religion to be a major part of their life. Along the way, The Wicker Tree jumps miles ahead of the garish Cage remake of The Wicker Man.

Rating: 8.3/10

The Wicker Tree (Blu-Ray) / 2012 Anchor Bay / 96 Minutes / http://www.anchorbayentertainment.com

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