The Wicker Man have been more fantastical in subject matter than the original film, and relied more heavily on special effects. In this continuation of the story, which begins immediately after the ending of the first film, Sergeant Neil Howie is rescued from the burning Wicker Man by a group of police officers from the mainland. Howie sets out to bring Lord Summerisle and his pagan followers to justice, but becomes embroiled in a series of challenges which pit the old gods against his own Christian faith. The script culminates in a climactic battle between Howie and a fire-breathing dragon – the titular
The Wicker Tree as the original "Wicker Man", but it's a thousand times better than the remake. I was quite happy with that." When asked whether he preferred "The Wicker Tree" to the original version of "The Wicker Man", Hardy replied, "No, I really don't." The film on Rotten Tomatoes, based on a total of 14 reviews, currently has a 29% rating, and an audience score of 10%. Anchor Bay Entertainment released "The Wicker Tree" on Region 1 and Region 2 DVD and Blu-ray in April 2012. Hardy had proposed a third film in the "Wicker Man" film series, but he died on