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The Wicker Man

United Kingdom

1973

88 Min
Color
1.85:1
English
  • Currently 3.9/5 Stars.
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DIR Robin Hardy

PROD Peter Snell

SCR Anthony Shaffer

DP Harry Waxman

CAST Edward Woodward, Christopher Lee, Diane Cilento, Ingrid Pitt, Britt Ekland

Synopsis

Typically categorized as a horror film, The Wicker Man is actually a serious and literate thriller about modern paganism, written by Anthony Shaffer (Sleuth) with a deft combination of cool subjectivity and escalating dread. (Despite this promising directorial debut, British filmmaker Robin Hardy didn’t make another film until The Fantasist, a little-seen thriller released in 1986.) We’re introduced to the friendly but mysterious residents of Summerisle (located off the west coast of Scotland), where the isolated community enacts rituals that seem, at first, to be merely unconventional. When called in to investigate an anonymous tip about a missing child, mainland police sergeant Howie (Edward Woodward) is treated as an outsider, and the ominous Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee) has the inside advantage. As the repressed policeman is taunted by the island’s sensuous atmosphere, his investigation leads to increasingly disturbing implications.

With phallic symbols and soothing music at every turn, Summerisle is a pleasant haven for those who perform the pagan rituals of Lord Summerisle’s maverick ancestors. These earthy ceremonies are presented with alluring authenticity, and the island’s tempting eroticism is fully expressed by the landlord’s daughter (Britt Ekland), who fills Howie with barely suppressed carnal desire. (Sirens took a comedic approach to a similar situation in 1994.) And yet the mystery of the missing girl remains, with clues that hint at a darker reality beneath the colorful local customs. When that reality is ultimately discovered, Howie becomes the crucial element in the islanders’ most elaborate ritual, which is where the film’s title comes into play. It may not be horror, but it is horrific, and this makes The Wicker Man an unforgettable film. —Jeff Shannon

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Displaying 4 of 29 wall posts.
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msmichel

24Feb12

One of the all time great 'cult' films. Though somewhat dated in its music use and look the film still has the power to un-nerve and fascinate. Shaffer's script is a clever examination of paganism trying to exist outside the parameters of a christian culture's acceptability. Woodward just great as the sergeant and Lee well cast as Lord Summerisle. Creepy at times, suspenseful at others and in the end horrifying.

HKFanatic likes this

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Mr.Wolf

4Feb12

Really liked this movie, the way it shows the catholic teachings, that every other form of worship twords any other thing other than The Great Big Bearded guy called God, is Paganism or just creation of the devil. Christopher Lee makes a great crossdresser hahahaha. "Its easy for kids to belive in reincarnation, than resurection."

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Scorpio Velvet

4Jan12

It's not really horror, it's rather more a musical mystery with a ending that left us thought-prvovking for many viewings now. The storyline still amuses me ever since I watched the first time (yes, the masks, Britt Ekland singing & dancing, the wicker man, Lord Summerisle, the rituals, the mystery, etc.)

sysyphus likes this

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Fans

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Articles

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Daily Briefing. Rollin, Hardy, Landis, Dante

By David Hudson on January 28, 2012

Hardy’s got a sequel to The Wicker Man, but Nicolas Cage has another idea.

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Ingrid Pitt, 1937 - 2010

By David Hudson on November 24, 2010

"Ingrid Pitt [site], Hammer horror's favourite heroine, has died aged 73 in south London," reports Catherine Shoard in the Guardian. "The

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The Forgotten: Dance of Death

By David Cairns on July 15, 2010

During a brief and unsuccessful attempt at becoming a flaneur, and working off some excess weight, I found myself in an unfamiliar part of

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Reviews

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One of my Top 5 of all time

By Henrik Schunk on May 25, 2012

An extraordinary eerie and strange movie. A policeman is send to a remote island to investigate the disapperance of a young girl, only the become entangled into the web of a paganistic cult.

  read review

The Wicker Man is a fine piece of pagan conspiracy cinema

By Michael Offeros​ky on December 7, 2009

I finally watched this uncut on Turner Classic Movies Underground (in HD, I might add) and I really enjoyed it. I thought it was a bit dated and corny to begin. A funny thing starts to happen though…  read review

Untitled

By kubrick​house on November 17, 2009

One of the greatest, most unique and truly nightmarish horror films ever and a legitimate cult classic that was rediscovered by many horror fans on videotape as well as later on DVD. From the excellent…  read review

Forum

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The Wicker Tree

13 posts by 11 people 11 months ago