The film has a notoriously complicated history regarding its edits and lost footage.
: Rare conversations with director Robin Hardy and star Christopher Lee. Restoration Comparison thewickerman1973thefinalcutexplicit1080 top
Sergeant Howie (Edward Woodward), a devout Christian policeman, travels to the remote Scottish island of Summerisle to investigate the disappearance of a young girl. He finds a society that has abandoned Christianity for Celtic paganism, led by the charismatic Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee). The Ending: The film has a notoriously complicated history regarding
. The "Final Cut" is widely considered the definitive version of the movie, restored to director Robin Hardy's original vision with a 92-minute runtime. He finds a society that has abandoned Christianity
When The Wicker Man was first released, it was trimmed significantly by the studio to fit on a double bill with Don’t Look Now . For years, rumors swirled about the "long version." Legend even suggests the original negative was used as landfill during motorway construction.
For decades, fans and film historians chased "the definitive version" of this movie like a ghost. Here is why the 1973 Final Cut in 1080p remains the gold standard for horror aficionados. The Mystery of the Missing Footage