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Edward Woodward, Britt Ekland, Diane Cilento, Ingrid Pitt, Christopher Lee ... see more see more... , Roy Boyd , Juliet Cadzow , Ian Campbell , Walter Carr , Michael Cole , Geraldine Cowper , Donald Eccles , John Hallam , Lindsay Kemp , Lesley Mackie , Aubrey Morris , John Sharp , Elizabeth Sinclair , Irene Summers , Russell Waters , John Young , Peter Brewis , Ian Wilson , Ross Campbell , Lorraine Peters , Charles Kearney , Richard Wren , Kevin Collins

A righteous police officer investigating the disappearance of a young girl comes into conflict with the unusual residents of a secluded Scottish isle in this unsettling, intelligent chiller. Brought t... read more read more...o the island of Summerisle by an anonymous letter, Edward Woodward's constable is surprised to discover that the island's population suspiciously denies the missing girl's very existence. Even more shocking, at least to the traditionally pious law office, the island is ruled by a libertarian society organized around pagan rituals. Repelled by the open acceptance of sexuality, nature worship, and even witchcraft, the officer takes an antagonistic attitude towards the people and their leader, an eccentric but charming English lord (Christopher Lee). The officer's unease intensifies as he continues his investigation, slowly coming to fear that the girl's disappearance may be linked in a particularly horrifying manner to an upcoming public festival. Anthony Shaffer's meticulously crafted screenplay creates a thoroughly convincing alternative society, building tension through slow discovery and indirect suggestion and making the terrifying climax all the more effective. Performances are also perfectly tuned, with Woodward suitably priggish as the investigator and horror icon Lee delivering one of his most accomplished performances as Lord Summerisle. Little noticed during its original theatrical run due to studio edits and a limited release, the film's intelligence and uncanny tone has since attracted a devoted cult following. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi

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R, 1 hr. 37 min.

Directed by: Robin Hardy

Release Date: December 1, 1973

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DVD Release Date: January 6, 2009

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Flixster Reviews (3,057)

  • fb100002384654145
    October 30, 2011
    fb100002384654145
    There are some creepy ideas imbedded in the script, but the execution is un-even and silly. Most of the film is build up to a pay-off that may have been disturbing in 1974, but not anymore. Why does every critic call this a horror movie, it is more of a mystery/suspense thrille... read morer. The acting is pretty good, especially from Edward Woodward and Christopher Lee. Their are some moments of clever cinematography. However, the story is silly and their are moments that provoke laughter than suspense. Their is a scene where Christopher Lee dresses like a woman, which made me ask myself "Are we supposed to take this seriously?". Plus, the movie does not give the audience any reason to care for what is going on. One critic called this film, "The Citizen Kane of horror movies". I think not, that honor belongs to movies like Psycho, The Shinning, Alien, or The Evil Dead.
  • theunknownhobo
    July 17, 2011
    theunknownhobo
    I think British people automatically find this movie scarier than other nationalities for the simple fact that once you have seen it, as a British person, every creepy little village you drive through or see on the TV your head automatically whispers "Wicker Man". Masterful, time... read moreless and ball shrinkingly creepy.
  • cancercapricorn2002
    June 17, 2011
    cancercapricorn2002
    What can I say but The Wicker Man is a great film The messages and themes in this movie are so phenomenal and elements bizarre, that its hard to believe people out their actually hate this movie. Whilst at first the film gives a some what biased message against Christianity, the ... read moremovie unfolds into a matter of religion being some what a muddle in general due to human kind's way of behaving upon it. A film that strikes a message across over mans obsession over religion? Yes, it works, and oh how it does.

    The plot is as follows; Sergeant (Neil) Howie receives a letter from anonymous from Summerisle, a small secluded Scottish island consisting of a community with some what odd and different believes from the mainland's religion and culture which possibly fall into Paganism. The letter explains of a missing girl called Rowan Morrison. Howie, being an incredibly strict Christian, so strict that he refuses to have sexual intercourse before marriage, and strict to his career as a police officer, is given nothing but "nonsense and rubbish" as he asks the whereabouts of Rowan Morrison, and other questions to follow, which ends with a festival called May Day which lives up to the films poster art work. This is where the questioning of your personal beliefs comes in. Howie seems to be very closed minded and strict about the culture of the people on Summerisle, and although you may think the people of the island think the opposite back, they too are quite ignorant and "insane" due to their beliefs and religion hence "God is dead, he had his chance".

    The film has an amazing pace, and along the whole feature there are scenes such as a girls nasal passage wrapped around a tree on her grave, and a jar of foreskins in a local shop which makes this film so different and obscure like no other because of its exploration into unheard territories of religion(s) and culture that we as the majority of society may be very unaware of. Another thing about The Wicker Man is its incredible realistic portraying of "pagan" cultures, where as in the remake we see people running around in brown and white robes, and in this film we see them as normal and well presented people living on an island isolated from their culture, but not living in the 1800's or anything ridiculous and far-fetched. The film does play on its characters to represent the message of accepting one another's cultures, religion, beliefs etc.

    Not only has this but the movie has a certain spark of music to it. Along the whole movie there is folk like music that occasionally makes its way into the film and suits in very fine to what scenes it connects with, such as the scene between Howie and Willow (Britt Ekland) and their moment despite their separation of different rooms. The music adds more to the islander's crazy, fun yet somewhat enlightening religion.

    The acting from almost every character and actor in the film is remarkable. Edward Woodward does an absolute spectacular job as the strict, up tight "no fun" police officer, and his character works so well with him, its not only convincing, but you begin to get annoyed by his character for being so, as many would say "boring" and yet we as the audience can understand just how he feels about the way things are run on Summerisle, and in the end there is a complete character change, that makes you feel so gloomy over the ending of the film. Even Edward Woodward's character went on to inspire the Simon Pegg's character of Nicholas Angel in Hot Fuzz (2007) in which Woodward himself stars in too. Christopher Lee has always has a certain enigma about him as an actor, in the James Bond film The Man With the Golden Gun he plays a mysterious and intellectual man which is convincing, not only due to his acting abilities but his facial expression, height and so on. Even today in films such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) he still has a morbid yet intelligent character about him despite he is only on screen for a few moments. All the extras of the film that appear on Summerisle also have this mysterious character about them. The sort of "they know something I don't" act is seen through whole movie by all the citizens of the island. Christopher Lee's role as Lord Summerisle has got to be one of the most influential and amazing performances I have ever seen on screen, and I'm sure there's more than a handful that agree with me.

    The Wicker Man, no matter how unheard of the film may be, should be seen by everyone who actually has a care left about film. This movie toys with personal beliefs and religion, and doesn't necessarily portray specific messages, but gives the viewer their own thought on the subject of religion, culture and beliefs. This land mark in film history will never be forgotten as long as people uphold its pure brilliance, no matter how many people say it isn't a horror film, and no matter how many remakes it may have. The Wicker Man has stood the test of time and as long as religion stays on the planet, this film will always stand the test of time.
  • matertenebraum
    February 10, 2011
    matertenebraum
    'The Wicker Man' follows the story of Sgt. Howie (Edward Woodward) who travels to the Scottish island of Summerisle to investigate the disappearance of a young girl. However, the entire population of the island, including the girl's own mother (Irene Summers), denies that such a ... read moregirl ever existed and as the righteous Howie investigates further he learns the terrifying truth of Summerisle.

    Famed for an exceptional yet short performance from the legendary Christopher Lee as Lord Summerisle, 'The Wicker Man' is a textbook example of how to create a virtually seamless horror/thriller. Director Robin Hardy at one point thought this low-budget movie would never be made as he was forced to work with a very small budget, a short shooting schedule and a studio on the verge of bankruptcy that was in fact declared bankrupt just a few short months after filming was completed. However, 'The Wicker Man' was made and nowadays is accepted as one of the finest horror/thrillers of all-time despite not receiving the praise it so deserved back in the Seventies. 'The Wicker Man' was brilliantly written by Anthony Shaffer who chose to add very subtle clues as to what would happen that are made more apparent on further viewings. With the added advantage of obvious research into the pagan rituals 'The Wicker Man' sought to portray the movie is left with a chilling feel of realism.

    An enchanting soundtrack is blended marvellously into 'The Wicker Man' which seems to lull the viewer into a false sense of security. Despite the constant foreboding feeling created by the intricate plot and top notch acting, there is a certain playful feeling that is brought about by the elegant soundtrack making it difficult to actually envisage any evil events occuring. One could be forgiven for wondering on a first viewing just where this bizarre little movie is going but the story has a quality about it that can grab the viewer and keep their interest all the way to the bitter and awfully haunting ending. The final scene as the credits roll is an image that is now engrained on my mind with all its emptiness and despair. As the curtain falls on this performance (so to speak) it becomes hard not to question the events leading up to the end and the humanity of these islanders. In some ways 'The Wicker Man' is an unsettling history lesson that makes itself seem all too real.

    Edward Woodward gives a tremendous performance as the increasingly baffled Sgt. Howie. He played his character convincingly and Howie's eventual realisation of what is going on around him is portrayed so well that it adds more realism to the movie. Woodward was able to take a character that may be a figure of loathing in another type of horror movie and make the audience feel empathy towards him. The strong religious beliefs within Howie thoroughly clash with the free-loving pagan society which adds humour and distress at the same time. However, as mentioned before, Christopher Lee somehow stole the show playing the relatively small part of Lord Summerisle. His magnificent onscreen presence seems so powerful that one forgets that he is only in the movie for a short amount of time. Added to this great mix was Britt Ekland as Willow, the beautiful landlord's daughter. Her seductive, nude dance (though a double was apparently used in parts) was one of the most erotic moments in horror and helped to contribute further realism to the movie. The scenes featuring the clashing characters of Howie and Willow are both amusing and tense making for some interesting character interaction.

    'The Wicker Man' is undoubtedly a cult classic of the horror genre which I recommend to all fans of horror/thrillers. Visually pleasing with some superb acting and direction as well as a fine screenplay.
  • mumby1988
    January 16, 2011
    mumby1988
    Beneath the glittering skin of their acclaim, many of our most celebrated films have a dark underbelly, a troubled history or strange aura surrounding them which may explain or undermine their status. Sometimes such knowledge can render a film like Smaug the Dragon: spectacular a... read morend threatening at first glance, but ultimately vulnerable to attack. But with The Wicker Man, these tall tales and strange stories are just the clues we need in attempting to discover which makes this film so great.

    Any film which gets branded "the Citizen Kane of horror movies" has an awful lot to live up to. Quite apart from the blinding hyperbole in this statement, it's also an odd description considering that The Wicker Man for the most part isn't a horror movie at all. It has a loose connection with the giallo tradition of pulpy horror-thrillers, having been paired with Don't Look Now when first released. But The Wicker Man's visuals are much more downbeat and naturalistic, and the horror comes less from expression than from suggestion, cultivating a sense of creeping, shapeless dread which threatens to engulf everything.

    At its heart, The Wicker Man is a mystery film, with some of the more introspective elements of film noir but very little of that genre's visual style. Its low-budget aesthetic and initial focus on police procedure mean that it could pass off as an extended episode of Z-Cars, and Edward Woodward's character is a classic old-fashioned copper in the mould of Dixon of Dock Green. He is a pillar of the community with entrenched moral values, quick to make his opinions known and never taking 'no' for an answer.

    But the film to which The Wicker Man owes the greatest debt, structurally speaking, is the Powell and Pressburger romantic drama I Know Where I'm Going!. Both films begin with the premise of our central character taking a journey to a mysterious place with a very clear purpose - Joan Webster to get married, Sergeant Howie to find the missing girl. And the central plot of both films is essentially a McGuffin, designed to keep said characters in one place so that their environment and the characters that populate it can trigger an important change.

    That is not to say that The Wicker Man doesn't work as a mystery in and of itself. On the contrary, it has to work. Because it doesn't romanticise Scotland in the manner of Powell's film, the plot has to be twisty and murky enough to keep Howie on the island out of his own curiosity. Although there are large mythical elements to the plot, these are not invoked in a broadly fantastical way, and so it simply would not be enough for the weather to be the only thing preventing Howie from going home. As he interviews the locals, gathering conflicting information, we become more engaged with what is going on, partly on an intellectual level as we try to figure it out, but also on an emotional level as we see Howie being utterly repulsed by the entire culture of Summerisle.

    Using the device of a police officer gathering information to solve a crime, The Wicker Man slowly reveals itself as a compelling and intelligent examination of a clash between two cultures, each being deeply entrenched but also seeming out of place with the real world. Howie's puritanical brand of Christianity is every bit as extreme and farcical as Lord Summerisle's praise for fire-jumping rituals, not to mention the May Day celebrations involving dressing up as Punch and decapitation. The 'paganism' practised by the inhabitants of Summerisle seems archaic and bizarre to our 'enlightened' eyes, but we do not embrace Howie's devoutness as an antidote to this. This is not a film which seeks to discredit paganism in favour of Christianity, or indeed the other way around. Its central purpose is to explore the flaws of both belief systems and their relationship with culture and human nature.

    Anthony Shaffer wrote The Wicker Man is an examination of different sides of human nature represented by Christianity and paganism. Shaffer's previous screenplay, Sleuth, had explored the idea of class warfare under the pretext that the different classes in the end need each other, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. It is much the same with The Wicker Man, with paganism standing in for the animalistic side of humanity, which is primal and at one with nature to the point of worshipping it, and Christianity posing as civilisation, with mankind as the dominant force and the bearers of both morality and rationality.

    Because this symbolism is explored so intelligently, we can forgive the film for not being an entirely accurate depiction of pagan religion. The various rituals and myths in the film are cobbled together from ancient British folklore and scholarship which has long since come into question. But in the end it doesn't really matter that pagan communities don't necessary burn people as offerings to sun gods. What matters is the imagery this conveys, of the animalistic past of mankind lurking deep within each of us and finally exploding forth in a powerful but ultimately pyrrhic gesture.

    The final sequence with the titular wicker man remains terrifying, not just because of what we see on screen but because of what it conveys symbolically. Seeing a man being burned to death is frightening; the close-ups on Edward Woodward's face as he commits his spirit into God's hands are deeply chilling. This sensation is compounded by the choice of music: while Lord Summerisle leads his followers in a full-blown rendition of 'Sumer Is Icumen In', Howie screams the opening of Psalm 23 as the two deeply opposed belief systems continue to lock horns even in defeat. But as with Christ's death upon the cross, even in defeat there is a twist. If the sacrifice does not work, if the devil's plans do not come off, the people will turn on the devil himself and all that he has worked for will be undone.

    The music of The Wicker Man hints at what makes has made the film so compelling for so long. Although there are sections of suspense, or intrigue, or outright horror, the primary mood of the film is one of total oddness. Halfway through the production, Robin Hardy announced to the surprise of everyone that the film was going to be a musical, with Paul Giovanni supplying both original score and several re-workings of English folk songs and nursery rhymes. The songs, coupled with the peculiar colour palette, make The Wicker Man border on the ridiculous, with the tone moving from the bawdy comedy of 'The Landlord's Daughter' to spiritual soul-searching as Howie attempts to pray. Christopher Lee may sing very well, but trying to take the fire-dancing song seriously will get you nowhere.

    This disparity between the subject and its presentation is what makes The Wicker Man so unusual and so memorable. But it also alludes to the difficult birth it had, in which Hardy's decision to add the songs was the least of its problems. The director, art director and producer fell out constantly, leading the latter to describe the film as being directed "in spite of Robin Hardy" rather than by him. Britt Ekland was incensed that her dialogue had been dubbed and that her nude dancing had been replaced by, in her words, "a big-butted body double". After the film was completed, its distributors cut and lost whole sections of the film, with Christopher Lee accusing British Lion boss Michael Deeley of burying the negatives in motorway landfill. The whole film had an aura of ill will surrounding it which makes it a small miracle that, in its 'director's cut' version (the best that survives), it works as well as it does.

    The Wicker Man remains a flawed but fascinating cult film which still has the ability to terrify after all these years. Woodward and Lee give excellent performances and the film is a smart and agile examination of sexual, cultural and religious tension, which sustains our interest through both the central mystery and the all-encompassing oddness of how it plays out. While not quite the masterpiece that it is often hailed to be, it remains a triumph of British filmmaking and a career high point for all concerned.
  • sanjurosamurai
    January 15, 2011
    sanjurosamurai
    as patient of a horror film as youre likely to see. the entire film felt like a logical nightmare, and i was ready to tear the film apart, until it all comes together in the end. i love the religious resolve of the protagonist and the message portrayed, and the final scene brin... read moregs a chilling and horrifying end to an otherwise suspenseful movie. i enjoyed this film more than i expected to.
  • ajv2688
    January 3, 2011
    ajv2688
    An under-appreciated movie, this is one of my favourite horror movies of the decade. I especially loved the ending, it's powerful and I love it. This is no ordinary horror movie, it really stands for something. I highly recommend it.
  • harrycaul
    November 25, 2010
    harrycaul
    R.I.P Ingrid Pitt, 1937-2010. I know Ingrid doesn't have a lot of screen time in The Wicker Man, so this might seem an odd choice of place to leave a tribute, but I think this quote from Jake Wright, assistant director on the picture, illustrates how generous, unaffected a... read morend well-liked within the industry the lady was: 'The characters of the three leading actresses really came out when we were shooting the final scene on Burrow Head, all shot on the cliff tops in November, and it was bitterly cold. There comes one moment when we have to reload the camera or something - a pause for two or three minutes - so I told the wardrobe to take the coats out for the three leading actresses. And Britt Ekland just seized her coat, put it on; Diane Cilento said, "Thank you very much," and put her coat on; and Ingrid Pitt said, "If the extras haven't got time to put their coats on, I haven't got time [either]," which I thought defines the three artists quite clearly.'
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    November 21, 2010
    TheDudeLebowski65
    I have heard about this film since the dreadful remake starring Nick Cage. I've never seen the remake, and I don't plan to, but I decided to check out this original Horror classic. The Wicker Man is an incredible Horror/Suspense film about a cop who's sent to an island to investi... read moregate the disappearance of a girl. The island community seem to be quite strange and conduct Pagan rituals. No one seems to be wanting to help Sgt Neil Howie as he investigates the community. He soon discovers the bizarre secrets and he is discovers what happened to the girl. I won't give away the rest of this masterpiece, because I believe that this is one of the best Horror films ever made. The Wicker Man was at that time, one of the first films dealing with the subject of sacrifice for religious purposes. The filmmakers have definitely done a great job at creating something unique. The Wicker Man is an important film in the Horror genre. The filmmakers definitely created something that truly is terrifying, and most of all they picked a great cast to tackle the roles. Edward Woodward is terrific, and equally as great is Christopher Lee who always delivers a top notch performance, his acting saved the bond film, The Man With The Golden Gun to be an absolute blunder of a film. Here he plays the key role of Lord Summerisle, the head of the religious community. If you're a diehard fan of horror and want to see one of the best films of it's kind, and you haven't seen The Wicker Man, you must see it. This is a different take on the Horror genre, and is a truly terrifying masterwork of the genre. Director Robin Hardy and Screenwriter Anthony Shaffer have definitely carved their place in Horror history with this classic. Terrifying, taut and suspenseful, The Wicker Man is a truly unique Horror experience.This is really a masterpiece of horror cinema and is considered one of the greatest British horror films ever made. Too bad the remake staring Nick Cage is a travesty, and a total abomination, yet it shows that no remake will ever top such a great classic such as this.
  • bottcorecords1
    March 6, 2010
    bottcorecords1
    To paraphrase Bob Dylan, "And something is happening here but you don't know what it is do you, Sergeant Howie?" The Wicker Man is an odd little film about a police officer investigating a missing girl who stumbles upon a pagan community on a little scottish isle. He spends muc... read moreh of the movie stumbling around the village, condemning all the abominations against Christ he witnesses. Is it a metaphor for the age old generation gap, more particularly the differences between old squares and flower power baby boomers, or is it a metaphor describing the de-evolution of the human race, or is it a condemnation of all religions in general, suggesting that all religions and superstitions place undue faith in the supernatural over the ability of mankind? I don't know the answers to those questions, but I do know that alot of what passed as shocking in the 1970s seems tepid by today's standards. One highlight of the film however, is Christopher Lee's delightfully creepy portrayal of the insane Lord Summerisle. He brings alot of fun to an otherwise not so funny movie. The inevitability of Sergeant Howie's downfall seems evident right from the start, but watching his inexorable descent into the madness of the village heightens that sense of foreboding to a nerve-wracking degree. For it's budget (or lack there of) it's quite an impressive bit of film-making.

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Critic Reviews

Variety Staff
October 7, 2008
Variety Staff, Variety

Anthony Shaffer penned the screenplay which, for sheer imagination and near-terror, has seldom been equalled. Full Review

Dave Kehr
October 7, 2008
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

Robin Hardy's 1973 cult horror film passed through several distributors, several versions, and several bankruptcies, picking up a powerful reputation along the way. Full Review

Graham Fuller
August 29, 2006
Graham Fuller, Village Voice

The Wicker Man's genre-bending, thematic daring, and tortuous history have made it the U.K.'s definitive cult movie. Full Review

James Berardinelli
February 24, 2002
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

Like many of the best horror/thrillers, The Wicker Man works because it surprises audiences, relying on carefully-nurtured suspense rather than cheap, theatrical shocks. Full Review

Tim Brayton
May 2, 2012
Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy

A truly unique horror movie, one of the odd handful throughout history that doesn't really seem to have been influenced by anything and has no obvious heirs, not even its own remake. Full Review

Charles Cassady
December 15, 2010
Charles Cassady, Common Sense Media

Adult chiller about modern pagans -- no Hogwarts. Full Review

Fernando F. Croce
October 10, 2009
Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion

A mordant study of theological anxiety Full Review

Steven D. Greydanus
October 29, 2008
Steven D. Greydanus, Decent Films Guide

The gothic ambiance and mood synonymous with the era's familiar tales of unholy menace is wholly absent. If there is evil here, it doesn't know it's evil. Full Review

October 7, 2008
TV Guide's Movie Guide

It remains a fine example of occult horror that remains with the viewer well past its conclusion. Full Review

Derek Malcolm
August 24, 2007
Derek Malcolm, This is London

You can't help smiling at the audacity of it all and shivering a little at the feelbad ending. Full Review

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The Wicker Man Trivia

  • Christopher Lee as Lord Summerisle, Edward Woodward as the police sergeant & Britt Ekland as a pagan?  Answer »
  • What Movie was filmed partially on Bowen Island B.C. Canada? *HINT* The star "Found treasure in 2004" and will do it again in 2007.  Answer »
  • nicolas cage stared in the national treasure and wot is his new film called?  Answer »
  • What movie stars Edward Woodward as a detective sent to a strange island to investigate the disapearance of a young girl?  Answer »
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