I can still hardly believe that we’ll be getting a follow-up to THE WICKER MAN, which is one of my favorite horror movies; furthermore, I can’t believe that Robin Hardy has returned to the director’s chair for the flick. I’d be dubious about a sequel (or “re-imagining” or whatever you want to call it) if it was coming from anybody else. Even so, seems like we’ve been waiting all-too-long for this tree to grow. When are we going to get to revel in it?
If you’re lucky enough to be attending the Abertoir Horror Festival in Aberystwyth, Wales, you’ll be able to see a 12-minute promo of THE WICKER TREE on Sunday November 14th – that’s this Sunday, so if you’re planning on going, better get on it. Hardy actually is the founder of the festival, so it makes sense that the folks attending this particular fest will be the first to take a gander at this highly anticipated movie. According to the BBC, it’s due to come out in the spring – at least in Europe. Hopefully it’ll hit North America soon after, if not at the same time.
Gospel singer Beth and her cowboy friend Steve, set off from Texas to enlighten the Scottish heathens in the ways of Christ. When they are welcomed with joy and elation to the village of Tressock, the border fiefdom of Sir Lachlan Morrison, they assume their hosts simply want to hear more about Jesus. Beguiled by beautiful, sexy Celtic music, in counterpoint to the bluegrass hymns Beth sings to them, she is elected Queen of the May. Meanwhile an increasingly doubtful Steve becomes her consort, destined to be hunted on horseback by the whole community in a ritual he believes to be an innocent race. Neither of them realize that these honours are being heaped upon them for a purpose that will lead them to a terrifying end…
Graham McTavish, Clive Russell, Honeysuckle Weeks, Henry Garrett, Callum Mitchell, Jacqueline Leonard, Prue Clarke, James Mapes, Keith Warwick, Brittania Nicol, Iain Stuart Robertson, Christopher Leveaux and Christopher Lee all star in the film.