The slightly disappointing opening weekend suffered by Snakes on a Plane - this year's internet sensation - suggests that the studio's decision to ostentatiously deny the press advance screenings may not have been such a clever wheeze after all.

The original reason given was that the viral nature of the film's culthood might be corrupted by mainstream coverage. Is there, perhaps, a similar rationale behind another film company's refusal to allow reviewers to see The Wicker Man before its release next week? Neil LaBute's remake of the classic British horror film has, certainly, been chewed over in all corners of the internet. Little of the chatter has, however, been of a positive nature. Seek out the hysterical "Real Wicker Man Trailer" on YouTube to get some sense of the concern abroad among fans of the original. Ironically, Snakes on a Plane ended up belatedly getting pretty decent reviews. We will approach The Wicker Man, which stars Nicolas Cage in the Edward Woodward role, with a similarly open mind.