The Wicker Man (1973)

Film: The Wicker Man

Director: Robin Hardy

Country: UK

Released: December 1973

Runtime: 92 minutes

Genre: Horror

Studio: British Lion

Influenced: Ben Wheatley, Ari Aster, Robert Eggers, Jennifer Kent, Edgar Wright

Conceived by British screenwriter Anthony Shaffer, who was also known for his work on the play Sleuth and the screenplay for Hitchcock's Frenzy (1972), The Wicker Man was inspired by David Pinner's 1967 novel Ritual. Directed by Robin Hardy, it's a film that cannot be labelled, almost a film "fantastique" in the tradition of Georges Méliès, Marcel Carné, etc but uniquely weird and British. Schaffer and Hardy intended to create a film that was a stark departure from the typical horror films of the time, which often featured supernatural creatures or malevolent spirits, and spent 18 months researching and writing the script, which explores the traditions of pre-Christian paganism. They also wanted to delve into the human capacity for cruelty, focusing on a clash of ideologies: Christianity vs pagan beliefs.

The Wicker Man follows Sergeant Howie (Edward Woodward, aka The Equalizer), a devout Christian police officer from mainland Scotland, who travels to the isolated island of Summerisle to investigate the disappearance of a young girl named Rowan Morrison. On the island, he encounters a community that celebrates Celtic pagan traditions under the guidance of their charismatic leader, Lord Summerisle (played with aplomb by Christopher Lee). The film is innovative in its approach to the horror genre, relying heavily on psychological elements and pervasive eeriness rather than explicit violence or supernatural scares. Its rich symbolism and detailed representation of Celtic pagan rituals added a unique layer of authenticity and intrigue. On top of that, The Wicker Man's use of folk music and song, often incorporated into the narrative rather than serving merely as background score, makes the film so distinctive.

Filmed on location in Scotland, particularly the Highlands (the harbour scenes are from Plockton) and Dumfries & Galloway (Gatehouse of Fleet for the Green Man pub and Castle Kennedy for Lord Summerisle's mansion), The Wicker Man delves deep into British and Celtic folklore and mythology, including references to figures such as John Barleycorn (the spirit of grain, particularly barley, and the lifecycle of the crop) and the Green Man (the spirit of nature, rebirth and the cycle of growth each spring). British folk music of the late 60s and 70s explored similar themes, and in the Green Man pub we see a band perform songs while Britt Ekland (the landlord's daughter) dances naked upstairs. Howie witnesses a series of bizarre rituals, including a sexual rite performed in the open and the teaching of phallic symbolism to schoolchildren, which shocks his Christian sensibilities. 

Another key moment is the revelation that the island's successful crop growth is attributed to the fertility rites of their pagan beliefs. When the crops fail, a human sacrifice is required to appease their gods. Howie is led to believe that Rowan is to be sacrificed to restore the island's fertility, but finds out that Rowan's disappearance was a ruse to lure him, a virginal representation of the Christian faith, to the island as the ultimate sacrifice. In the film's unforgettable climax, Howie is trapped inside a giant wicker man statue, which is set on fire as the islanders watch and sing. Not a commercial or critical success on release, The Wicker Man has gained a significant cult following over time and is now considered a classic of the folk horror subgenre. If you want a laugh, watch the Nicolas Cage remake (2006).