The Wicker Man

On a stormy island town, a seasoned sheriff arrives to investigate the disappearance of a young girl. As he digs through the community's guarded whispers, he encounters a close knit society that practices a harsh and unfamiliar faith. The closer he gets to the truth, the more the locals resist his questions, offering red herrings and rituals that blur the line between belief and danger. What begins as a missing person case slowly reveals a larger, unsettling puzzle rooted in ancient rites, secrecy, and a cultural code that refuses to bend to outsiders. The sheriff must weigh what he knows against what the island quietly guards for truth. The tense atmosphere keeps nagging at the edges of safety and reason.

Directed by Neil LaBute this 2006 remake updates the original cult thriller, drawing on the spirit of the 1973 film created by Anthony Shaffer and Robin Hardy with David Pinner credited as creator. A remake that amplifies suspense through visuals.

Box office data isn’t included in this description. The film was released as a 2006 remake and is frequently discussed in relation to the original 1973 version. Worldwide grosses vary by market globally. No official worldwide total is provided here.

The film has lingered in pop culture largely because of a memorable bee scene where the intensity reaches comic extremes, a moment that became a meme and a shorthand for the movie's wild tonal pivot. It keeps sparking conversations about remakes and originality. Fans still reference it in light humor.

Critics were divided; some praised LaBute for atmospheric dread while others found the pacing uneven and the tonal shift jarring. The film wrestles with isolation, belief versus coercion, and the ethics of confronting a closed community. Its themes still resonate in debates about how far filmmakers should push a story.