‘The Wicker Man’ (1973) The Final Cut 4K UHD Blu-Ray SteelBook Review – A Cult Horror Classic

When a young girl mysteriously vanishes, Police Sergeant Howie (Edward Woodward) travels to a remote Scottish island to investigate. But the seemingly quiet community is not as it appears, as the detective uncovers a secretive pagan society led by the strange Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee). While the townsfolk tempt and threaten him with bizarre rituals and wanton lust, Howie must race to discover the truth behind the girl’s disappearance before his clash with Lord Summerisle builds to a terrifying conclusion – one that has cemented this cult shocker as a modern horror masterpiece.

For thoughts on The Wicker Man, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic: 

[youtube https://youtu.be/LC32BEt1b-E?si=U4YQ7QhiACtzINxY&t=1884]

Video Quality

Lionsgate presents The Wicker Man with a very impressive 2160p transfer in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio sourced from a 4K restoration conducted by StudioCanal with Dolby Vision HDR. While there is a mammoth box set overseas that includes multiple cuts of the film in 4K UHD, this domestic release from Lionsgate only contains the Final Version of the film (which falls somewhere between the Theatrical and the Director’s Cut in terms of length). This is notable because some of the footage unique to this cut is in rough shape and stands out prominently when compared to the well-maintained elements. The restoration comes from a 4K scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative with a small section replaced with a 35mm Intermediate Positive. Some additional footage was also sourced from 35mm prints. 

Having all of this in mind, it becomes easier to forgive some of the brief moments that appear with very disappointing quality before bouncing back to the sterling 4K presentation. Once again, this is a function of the source and not a problem with the presentation since the footage simply doesn’t exist anymore. When the movie is firing on all cylinders, the level of detail and clarity is tremendous with the perfect amount of thick natural film grain intact. The grain primarily resolves favorably with some minor fluctuations due to the original photography. The texture on display in the outfits and within the environments and production design is jaw-dropping at times. This transfer does not exhibit anything egregious in the way of print damage such as nicks or scratches. There does not appear to be any jarring digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding, or any other such nuisances that would distract – just the aforementioned replacement scenes. 

The application of Dolby Vision for increased color output is a true standout with this disc. This horror film has an unusual amount of daytime sequences, and this transfer handles the bright environments like a champ. The restoration features some colors in the landscapes and costumes that pop off the screen with a striking intensity. Lighting is an essential part of establishing the eerie tone of this film and this disc handles the island exploration very well. Highlights are more brilliant with a brighter look that does not succumb to clipping or blooming. Black levels are fetching with nothing in the way of crush present. Lionsgate and StudioCanal have done everything in their power to make this film look the best that the source will allow. 

Audio Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc comes with an LPCM 2.0 mono track in English which realizes the sonic pursuits of the film perfectly. The unsettling folk music has never sounded better and is used impeccably to establish the vibe of the story. There is never a moment when it overshadows competing sounds, and it maintains a proper prominence so that dialogue comes through clearly. The environmental sounds such as waves hitting the coast are rendered well alongside everything else. There do not seem to be any egregious instances of age-related wear and tear. Lionsgate has served up a solid audio track that seems in line with the DTS-HD 1.0 Master Audio mono track present on the Blu-Ray. There are optional English SDH subtitles provided.

Special Features

Lionsgate has provided The Wicker Man with a sleek new SteelBook available exclusively at Best Buy that is truly lovely in person. The case comes with a removable clear slipcase with flowers around the title treatment. The artwork underneath is an animated rendering of young women dancing around the Wicker Man which continues onto the rear. The interior sports a textured animated silhouette of the Wicker Man on the left-hand panel. The on-disc content is as follows: 

Disc One – The Final Cut (4K UHD Blu-Ray) (1:34:49)

• Revisiting The Locations of The Wicker Man: A 12-minute featurette in which Robin Hardy’s son, Dominic, takes us to Dumfries and Galloway for the film’s 50th anniversary to see how things have changed. Along the way, we get some interviews interspersed including stories about the body double for Britt Ekland’s bottom shot. 

• The Wicker Man at 50: An 11-minute piece in which Dominic talks to an array of critics who discuss why the film endures all these decades later and how the legacy has been shaped. 

• Robin Hardy’s Script – The Lost Ending: An 11-minute reading of an unused portion of the finale from Robin Hardy’s original bound script is provided here. The ending is great as is, but it is interesting to see how it was originally conceived. 

• Britt Ekland Interview: A nearly 11-minute new interview with the actress in which she discusses landing the role in The Wicker Man, the unpleasant shooting conditions, not getting along with Robin Hardy, the reality of seeing the Wicker Man in person, and more. 

• Stills Gallery: A collection of images from the production is provided here. 

• Worshipping The Wicker Man: A 24-minute appreciation piece featuring interviews with director Ben Wheatley (Meg 2: The Trench), director James Watkins (The Woman in Black), director Eli Roth (Hostel), film critic Larushka Ivan-Zadeh, film editor Chris Tilly, and music and film critic Frances Morgan discuss the film’s place in the horror genre, the complicated nature of the characters, the performances, why the film is a classic and more. 

• The Music of The Wicker Man: A 16-minute exploration of the unique soundtrack that helps conjure the unusual atmosphere of the film.

• Interview with Robin Hardy (2013): A 17-minute interview with the director in which he discusses the origins of the picture, the themes, the Final Cut of the feature, memories with the townspeople, and much more. 

• Interview with Robin Hardy & Christopher Lee (1979): A 26-minute vintage piece in which they discuss their careers, shooting on location, the film’s initial reception, and more. 

• Trailers: Two trailers totaling nearly four minutes are provided here. 

Disc Two – The Final Cut ( Blu-Ray) (1:34:09)

• Worshipping The Wicker Man

• The Music of The Wicker Man

• Interview with Robin Hardy (2013)

• Restoration Comparison: A two-minute look at the incredible restoration accomplishments is provided here. 

• Trailers: A minute-and-a-half-long trailer is provided here. 

Final Thoughts

The Wicker Man is a classic in the horror genre not for providing any traditional scary moments, but rather a building disquiet that keeps you on edge with every stranger you meet in town. You know that something is not right with this town, but it is not always clear how dark the story might end up. There is so much about this that leaves us scratching our heads, but that is part of what makes it so special. The performances are memorable across the board and help keep this more substantial. Lionsgate Home Entertainment has released a sensational 4K UHD Blu-Ray package featuring a great A/V presentation and a ton of fun special features. The SteelBook packaging is also one of the most gorgeous pieces we have seen in a while. This is a big win for fans of the film. Recommended 

The Wicker Man is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray SteelBook exclusively at Best Buy.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Lionsgate Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.