This post is a part of an ongoing project in which I watch one movie from a different country every week.
PLOT: A devout Christian police sergeant (Edward Woodward) travels to a Scottish island in search of a missing girl whom the locals claim never existed. While there, he learns that the islanders worship pagan Celtic Gods and are planning a… honestly, the less you know going into it the better.
MEMORABLE MOMENT: When the “fool” of a police sergeant finally encounters the titular Wicker Man. I won’t describe the scene or the context (because 1- it’s too great of a spoiler and 2 – I wouldn’t do it justice). However, I will say that Edward Woodward’s performance transforms him into the human manifestation of misery. I am left dumbfounded every time I watch this scene.
ACCORDING TO IMDB:
- The Wicker Man was intended as a vehicle for Christopher Lee who agreed to appear in the film for free. He considers the role of Lord Summerisle to be his favorite of all the characters he’s played (sorry Saruman fans). Lee paid for his own press tour out of pocket and sat down with anyone who was willing to interview him about the movie. Supposedly, there were some farmers in Iowa who were surprised to see him live on early morning public access shows.
- There is a rumor that the original negative was used as material during the construction of the M3 motorway in England. Christopher Lee claims that this was done on purpose because Michael Deeley (Producer of The Deer Hunter and Blade Runner) hated the film so much.
- A remake was filmed in 2006 and a sequel (The Wicker Tree) was made in 2011. I have seen neither but from from what I hear don’t bother.
WHO IS THIS MOVIE FOR?: Despite the modest success upon its initial release in 1973, The Wicker Man has become required viewing for horror fans. In 1977, film magazine Cinefantastique stated that The Wicker Man was “the Citizen Kane of horror movies.”
That being said, the film goes against many horror tropes. Most of the scenes take place outside during the day and the majority of the music (a character in upon itself) is traditional folk songs.
In fact, impatient viewers might complain that the film’s first hour is downright campy. Many of the scenes feel like something out of a comedic police procedural. There are no grisly murders or jump scares. We are given the impression that Sergeant Howie is in complete control of the situation. However, the audience needs to see this movie all the way through to the end. The climax is one of the most disturbing scenes I have ever witnessed, completely juxtaposing the light-hearted nature of what has come before.
The Wicker Man isn’t just a monument of a horror film, it is also a very unique horror film. Halloween and Psycho are slasher films. The Sixth Sense and It Follows are supernatural thrillers. The Wicker Man‘s unique plot structure and tone places it in a sub genre of its own.
So yes, this is a film for anyone who is a fan of horror or cult films or great movies in general. That being said, people who are sensitive to discussions that criticize Christianity and Paganism may want to tread lightly. Also (light spoiler) some animals do die very horrible deaths. To be honest, that was the part of the film I found the most unsettling…that’s just the kind of guy I am.
RUNTIME: 88 Minutes (Although this varies slightly depending on which version you’re watching.)
DIRECTOR: Robin Hardy
WRITER: Anthony Shaffer
