Rated PG-13 for disturbing images and violence, language and thematic issues.
Directed by Neil LaBute (The Shape of Things, Possession, Nurse Betty)
Starring Nicolas Cage, Ellen Burstyn, Leelee Sobieski
You probably don’t even need my 2 cents on this one. One glance at the cover tells all.
Skip this one.
Nick Cage plays a curious cop who goes to a secluded island to investigate a missing person. This bizarre recluse group of women seem to engage in bizarre pagan rituals. As Cage’s character investigates, he unveils a plot for human sacrifice… and he isn’t happy to discover the main ingredient.
The film actually kept me in the beginning. But the more I discovered, the less interested I became. My disinterest hit its peek at the revelation of the 50 foot wicker man at the end of the film. Although I found it rather comedic to listen to the audio commentary and hear how engaged the director, editor and cast were by the film. I guess someone needed to enjoy it!
The DVD features a “director’s” edition that was even more of a dud than the first edition. It was humorous to hear the director’s commentary as he explained how “unsettling” the extra footage was. Call me numb, but I wasn’t unsettled… I wasn’t even awakened.
Skip it.
SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
Little kids shouldn’t. And every other age will be bored.
Side Note:
As said above, we recommend you skip this film. But on the occasion that your teen actually has already seen it, you may want to dialogue about the film with them. These questions below may be a help to you.
Conversation Starter
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):
- What are some of the messages or themes you observed in this movie?
- How do you suppose we—as serious Christ-followers—should react to this movie?
- How can we move from healthy, Bible-based opinions about this movie to actually living out those opinions?
