Burnt Offering: The Cult of the Wicker Man (2001)
**** (out of 4)
Mark Kermode hosts this documentary that takes a look at the popularity of THE WICKER MAN. We get interviews with the likes of Christopher Lee, Britt Ekland, Robin Hardy, Ingrid Pitt, Anthony Shaffer, Peter Snell, Edward Woodward and Roger Corman.
If you're a fan of THE WICKER MAN then you'll find this to be an extremely entertaining documentary. A lot of these elements were also covered in the Anchor Bay special features on their original DVD release but this here is a bit more complete and entertaining.
We basically get to review the film's entire history from pre- production all through the filming. We hear about the various issues that some of the cast members had with locals and we also hear from Ekland about how upset she was when the producer hired a body double behind her back. We also get into the controversial nature of the film's original release and who demanded the cuts be made and the now infamous missing negative.
Michael Deeley, who is interviewed here, is certainly made to be the bad guy and his response to the criticism is quite entertaining to say the least. The documentary also has an interview with Corman who originally bought the film for its U.S. release and ended up being the reason it was cut but also the reason it would eventually be restored to its longest length.
The interviews are really fantastic so fans of the film will certainly want to watch this documentary. It does a very good job in telling the history of the film as well as the controversy that has followed it.
**** (out of 4)
Mark Kermode hosts this documentary that takes a look at the popularity of THE WICKER MAN. We get interviews with the likes of Christopher Lee, Britt Ekland, Robin Hardy, Ingrid Pitt, Anthony Shaffer, Peter Snell, Edward Woodward and Roger Corman.
If you're a fan of THE WICKER MAN then you'll find this to be an extremely entertaining documentary. A lot of these elements were also covered in the Anchor Bay special features on their original DVD release but this here is a bit more complete and entertaining.
We basically get to review the film's entire history from pre- production all through the filming. We hear about the various issues that some of the cast members had with locals and we also hear from Ekland about how upset she was when the producer hired a body double behind her back. We also get into the controversial nature of the film's original release and who demanded the cuts be made and the now infamous missing negative.
Michael Deeley, who is interviewed here, is certainly made to be the bad guy and his response to the criticism is quite entertaining to say the least. The documentary also has an interview with Corman who originally bought the film for its U.S. release and ended up being the reason it was cut but also the reason it would eventually be restored to its longest length.
The interviews are really fantastic so fans of the film will certainly want to watch this documentary. It does a very good job in telling the history of the film as well as the controversy that has followed it.
