Is The Wicker Man the new Rocky Horror?

Danny Leigh at the Guardian Film Blog examines the latest permutation of the Wicker Man phenomenon. We’ve had the film, the extended cut of the film, the rock opera, the horrid remake, the upcoming sequel/re-imagining, and the musical, now we have Sing-Along-A-Wickerman.

All together now! Sumer Is A-Cumen In…

“Hosted by David Bramwell and singer Eliza Skelton, Sing-Along-A-Wickerman is a unique night of entertainment for Wickerman enthusiasts and novices alike, featuring live music, audience sing-alongs, a rare screening of the super-8 comedy-classic THE WICKERMAN and other treats. Once sufficiently warmed up, the audience are provided with goody bags full of dark secrets (for use during the film) and a Pagan Hymn Book with lyrics to all the songs. We then roll into the film in all its camp, twisted glory, with David and Eliza at the helm guiding the crowd along with the words, actions, dialogue and buttock-slapping! So dust down your best Scottish accent, dress up as your favourite character (for prizes!), and may god have mercy on your soul!”

Leigh expresses some skepticism about turning the 1970s cult-classic into the next Rocky Horror Picture Show.

“Lovely. Except, like a one-man Waldorf and Statler, I find myself hovering around the edges of killjoydom. Because, while all in favour of the movie as communal experience, I can’t help feeling that the singalong stuff is best reserved for those films where the pleasure of audience participation is clearly greater than simply watching them. It only works with one of those rare films that takes a knowing delight in its own absurdity (see the grand-tranny of them all, The Rocky Horror Picture Show), or one that is better suited as a kind of abstract panto.

None of which is true of The Wicker Man (the original, at least – I’d fully endorse audience participation for Neil LaBute’s remake, principally flinging bags of excrement at the screen). Yes, of course, the music was and is oddly delightful, and yes, there was always a slightly camp element at work in the project; … But, there’s also a genuine note of eerie menace at the heart of Hardy’s movie, one undimmed by familiarity.”

I share some of the writer’s concerns, but it also sounds like it could be a lot of fun, and the sort of event that could find an enthusiastic audience here in America. If some enterprising soul tries to do it, just be sure to use the extended “long” version so we can have “Gently Johnny” as part of the experience.