Synopsis

After surviving a traumatic accident, police officer Edward Malus is contacted by a former lover whose daughter has vanished from the isolated island of Summersisle. His investigation leads him into a secretive matriarchal community whose rituals, evasions, and hostility suggest that the missing girl may be connected to a terrifying ceremony.

Factoids & Trivia

• The film is a remake of the 1973 British folk-horror film, with the story relocated from Scotland to the Pacific Northwest.

• The screenplay draws from Anthony Shaffer's original film script and David Pinner's 1967 novel "Ritual," the source material that inspired the earlier adaptation.

• Production took place primarily in British Columbia, including Saturna Island, Bowen Island, Vancouver, Langley, and Merritt. Filming ran from July 28 through September 30, 2005.

• Nicolas Cage served as one of the producers and dedicated the remake to Johnny Ramone, who had introduced him to the original "The Wicker Man."

• The island's religious structure was changed from the original film's predominantly male-led pagan community to a matriarchal commune, reflecting writer Neil LaBute's recurring interest in power relationships between men and women.

• The theatrical version ends with Edward's sacrifice inside the wicker figure. An unrated DVD version includes a more graphic alternate ending involving a wire helmet and live bees, followed by a different closing structure.

• Released in the United States on September 1, 2006, the film was rated PG-13 and runs approximately 103 minutes. It became particularly associated with its exaggerated tone and the alternate "bees" sequence, which later contributed to its cult reputation.