The Wicker Man

Year: 1973 Director: Robin Hardy

The story revolves around a strict Presbyterian police officer - Sergeant Howie (played by Edward Woodward) who is sent a anonymous letter about the disappearance of a young girl on the remote Scottish island of Summerisle. He goes to the island to investigate the disappearance and suspects that the locals are colluding to withhold information about the disappearance of the girl, as they maintain that no such girl exists. As Howie searches further it becomes clear that the girl does actually exist, and as that the locals attempts to throw him off the scent become more peculiar, he decides to speak to their leader Lord Summerisle (played by Christopher Lee). Lord Summerisle explains, as Howie has witnessed during his stay, that he and the villagers still believe in the old pagan gods (i.e. pre-christian pagan gods) and that their pagan gods must be fed so that their crops will grow. Howie believes that the missing girl is being hidden to await being made a ritual sacrifice to the gods. With the appointed day fast approaching can he stop the sacrifice from taking place.

The Wicker Man is a very unusual film. Made in the mould of the Hammer movies its clever script and its original theme, together with some inspired casting led to the modestly budgeted and hastily shot film both looking and playing out beautifully, helping it to eventually become a cult classic. Both Woodward and more particularly Christopher Lee are superb in their roles. Indeed, throughout Lee's long career it is in this role that he gives his finest performance as the statuesque and very bonny Lord Summerisle. Mention should also be made of the soundtrack of dark folk tunes that helps summon up the suitably brooding pagan air of the film. Due to the state of the British film industry at the time, and more tellingly the studio politics, The Wicker Man was given a very short and limited theatrical release. It was fairly clear that the powers that be did not like the film, thought it could not make any money, and therefore spent little or nothing on its promotion. Eventually they were happy to see the film buried (quite literally much of the original master reels were sent to landfill). A few years later it became a cult favourite in America and with (infrequent) showings on television (on both sides of the Atlantic) the word of mouth about the film spread, which lead to its eventual release on home video and a much wider audience. In recent years its cult status has given way to a much broader audience and it is finally receiving the adulation it deserved. The digitally restored prints of the film have recently made their way to the cinemas giving audiences a chance to see the film on the big screen where it looks very impressive indeed. For a "little" film it has achieved so much, and hopefully the release of the abjectly dismal and pointless Hollywood remake will encourage a new younger audience to check out the craftsmanship, love and inspiration that went into making the original version of The Wicker Man.

The Wicker Man features in our Interactive Haunted House of Horror guide to horror films and scary movies.

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