Christopher Lee’s acting career brought audiences many iconic movies, likeThe Wicker Man.Still, he was not impressed when Nicolas Cage starred inThe Wicker Manremake, and Lee referred to the situation as “pretty desperate.” Christopher Lee played some iconic villains throughout his career, and while fantasy fans might know him best as Saruman inLord of the Rings, he also played Count Dracula many times. That said, of all the greatChristopher Lee horror movies that aren’t about Dracula, the 1973 folk horrorThe Wicker Manis one of his best.
InThe Wicker Man, police officer Neil Howie is summoned to an island where a young girl has disappeared. In the original, Lee played Lord Summerisle, the pagan ruler of the island’s population, while Edward Woodward played Howie. In the remake, the police officer is renamed and played by Nicolas Cage.The Wicker Man’s horrifying endingis infamous, and it is similar in both the original and the remake. Still, the remake was critically panned, with a 15% Rotten Tomatoes rating.Nicolas Cage’s movie could be so bad that it’s good, but Christopher Lee did not agree.
Christopher Lee Didn’t Think The Wicker Man Should Be Remade
The Wicker Man Still Influences Modern Horror Movies, While The Remake Inspired Mocking Memes
Christopher Lee felt thatThe Wicker Manwas his best movie, even comparing it toCitizen Kanein terms of its effect on the world. He was not wrong, asThe Wicker Manhas inspired a heavy metal song, several festivals, and many other horror movies, including Florence Pugh’s folk horror,Midsommar. After such success, it is not surprising that Lee had strong feelings about the remake. He told theScottish Daily Record, “They all seem pretty desperate in the film and television world… to remake a movie with such history and success just doesn’t make sense to me.”
Nic Cage’s Most Memed Movie Proved His Perfect Horror Connection
While Nic Cage’s most-memed film The Wicker Man lives on in infamy, it also proves a perfect connection between Cage and an acclaimed horror director.
The Wicker Man’s influence can be seen in many ofthe best folk horror movies. The best example isMidsommar, which, likeThe Wicker Man, comes to a shocking and brutal end with a fire and a human sacrifice. That said, Nicolas Cage’s remake did not have the cinematic impact of Christopher Lee’s movie. This is partly becauseThe Wicker Man’s ending would not shock people who had seen the original, and partly because the script was terrible.The Wicker Manremake was so bad that its cultural impact lay mostly in memes, including the infamous “not the bees” line.
Christopher Lee’s Wicker Man Remake Criticism Was Justified
Nicolas Cage Says That The Wicker Man Remake Was Misunderstood
Christopher Lee was right thatThe Wicker Mandid not need to be remade, as the original movie is a cult classic, andNicolas Cage’s remake ofThe Wicker Mandid not bring anything new to the story. The lead character’s name was changed, Lord Summerisle became Sister Summerisle, and the background of the cult was altered to reflect an American setting. However, these changes were not enough to make the movie stand out, and the most drastic change was the most confusing. Nicolas Cage’s remake often felt like a comedy or parody, while the original provoked constant creeping dread.
Rotten Tomatoes critics' score
Rotten Tomatoes audience score
1973
£485,000
$475.661 million
91%
82%
2006
$40 million
$38.8 million
15%
17%
The remake ofThe Wicker Manhas been ridiculed and memed so much that Cage eventually spoke out to defend it. According to the actor himself,Nicolas Cage’sThe Wicker Manwas supposed to be a comedy.Cage explained that his version ofThe Wicker Manhad been misunderstoodby both audiences and critics, who had assumed that the humor was unintentional. As Christopher Lee had also said that he doesn’t mind follow-ups and significant changes to movies, he may have preferred the remake if Nicolas Cage had leaned fully into comedy inThe Wicker Man.
