The Wicker Man 1973

The Wicker Man's influence cannot be denied. Its fingerprints lie in countless movies after. And yet, unlike the last movie I watched, Blade Runner, its values lay far deeper than merely the foundation for others to build upon. This is a film that holds up incredibly well, in every respect. Concise and tightly plotted, it does all it sets out to accomplish. The music is surreal, innocent with a killer edge. The ensemble cast perfectly unwavering, innocent and offputting all at once. The cinematography presents this world bluntly, without shame, only heightening its unsettling nature. All of these come together to create an atmosphere forever suspenseful, forever building, until it reaches the fever pitch of the climax. You feel the fear and unease of the protagonist in every moment as if you were there yourself. The final scene sends chills down my spine.

Particular attention must be given to Edward Woodward as Neil Howie and Christopher Lee as Lord Summerisle, of course. Perfect foils, they both make use of every second they're on screen. Woodward bleeds passion and conviction, especially in the ending. He is the perfect audience surrogate, surveying the setting with the same suspicion and discomfort, trying to piece it all together as we are. Where Woodward burns, Lee simmers, a quiet confidence but no less certain. That certainty of both Lee and the rest of the ensemble produces the unsettling effect of Howie almost feeling like the fanatic, especially as he becomes more and more determined and disdainful of them all. Is it only the fact that others share them that makes our beliefs feel so obvious, so natural? If we were dropped into a world were everyone around us believes so completely something radically different, would we feel as lost, as under siege, as doomed?

The Wicker Man has been oft duplicated, with works like Midsommar putting their own unique spin on similar premises, but it has never been replaced. It still burns bright today, forever reborn through its influences. As both a piece of film culture and as a standalone work, it can't be missed.

The most horrifying thing about "The Wicker Man" is the acceptance of Paganism and it's superstitions by a group of morally vacant hippie islanders. I don't know that the movie is asking the viewer to pick a side, that is Paganism versus Christianity. I do think, however, that even though Sergeant Howie is portrayed as a narrow-minded authoritarian and is mostly unlikable, his aim to bring justice or possibly even save a little girl is at the very least, noble.

The islanders go so far as to disregard laws, embrace deception, and practice human sacrifice. Howie ends up staying true to his duty as a police officer and a future husband in the face of temptations, and this as much as anything makes him the heroic figure of the story.

The ending of the movie certainly packs a punch and I won't spoil it for anyone. I will say though that it is yet another reflection of Howie as the truly sympathetic character of the movie.

The movie lumbered clumsily through its first half, dragged down by overlong musical pieces and extended dialog. The second half picked up the pace as the story unfolded. This can't really be defined as horror as easily as it can a warped murder-mystery.