StudioCanal, out September 25

When a young girl mysteriously disappears, Police Sergeant Howie travels to a remote Scottish island and uncovers a secret society of wanton lust and pagan blasphemy. 

As I said in June, when Robin Hardy’s folk horror classic was screened theatrically for one night,  this new transfer is scanned in 4K from the original 35mm negative, a second generation 35mm internegative used to replace damaged sections. And apart from these cosmetic fixes and the different quality of footage in the new intro, it looks absolutely stunning.

As is par for the course with HDR 4K scans, there’s a new richness to the detail, with the rural daytime scenes bursting with colour, while there’s more to see in the nighttime sequences.

The film itself is of course a classic, influencing so much of the folk horror genre. Edward Woodward gives a career-best performance as a police officer investigating a missing girl, finding a wall of silence in the community, and unaware just how deep the conspiracy goes.

Christopher Lee frequently cited Lord Summerisle as one of his favourite roles, and it’s a wonderful, colourful performance that hides a sinister underbelly. Britt Ekland, Ingrid Pitt and Aubrey Morris also provide memorable supporting roles, and those kids with the masks are just… scary!

StudioCanal’s 5-disc set features pop-up artwork in rigid ‘book’ casing and includes all three cuts of the film plus a CD of covers from The Wicker Man soundtrack, a booklet of new writing, postcards and posters.

Discs 1 and 3 contain the same content, one in UHD and the other in HD. As well as The Final Cut, it includes features on the locations of the movie, Wicker Man, The Wicker Man at 50, Robin Hardy’s Script – The Lost Ending, an interview with Britt Ekland, Worshipping The Wicker Man, The Music of The Wicker Man, a 2013 interview with Robin Hardy, a 1979 interview with Robin Hardy & Christopher Lee, new trailer, stills and features on the cult of the movie.

Discs 2 and 4 also contain the same content (one in UHD and the other in HD) plus the Director’s Cut and Theatrical Cut, a commentary with Robin Hardy, Christopher Lee and Edward Woodward and the making of the Commentary

Verdict: It took 50 years to get here, but this is the definitive release of a British horror classic. 10/10

Nick joy

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