The Wicker Man (1973)

Fig 1. Movie Poster.

The final cut of Robin Hardy's 1973 sleeper hit The Wicker Man is one of the most original horror films in the genre, creating a mix of thriller, horror, musical and religion. The story follows our protagonist sergeant Howie who flies his plane to the Scottish Summer isles to investigate a missing person - Rowan Morrison after receiving a letter sent anonymously to him with a picture. Hardy taunts his audience's suspicions, what's happened to the girl? What starts off as something like a documentary of the Summerisles exploring their land and their strange culture such as women jumping over a bonfire naked shown in fig 2 progresses into more and more questions, the stranger the island appears the more we worry for the protagonist we've followed and connected with.

Fig 2. Bonfire Ritual.

As the plot goes on it only gets stranger and we do get answers in the climax as part of a big plot twist which only leaves the audience more baffled at this film, how can they murder a man, a whole town gang up on one and sing and dance as they take a life that is not theirs to take (see fig 3). The closer to the truth we believe we are, is really the further away we are which makes the climax such a memorable plot twist - "a masterstroke in horror history" (Strand, 2016). In addition to the incredible prop/set that is the wicker man itself (fig 4).

Fig 3. Sacrifice Celebration.

What makes The Wicker Man a hit film from a story telling perspective other than the plot are the characters, we have "Howie, despite his modern manners and Biblical morality, is a fundamentally unhappy soul ... with a self-righteous thud." (Matt, 2012) so when he comes to the island there is immediate friction with the Islanders, in contrast they are happy go lucky, pagans who have no biblical morality. The character frictions and developments is all part of the context needed to build up to the big climax, it's plot driven - the entire story is about the third act, "the majesty of horror can only be truly appreciated in the context of the building friction between characters." (Strand, 2016). Yet when it comes to Howie dying inside the wicker man we find the goat's cries more troubling to watch die.

Fig 4. The Wicker Man

A problem with the film is the image it creates for pagan religion, it makes pagans come across as extremists for burning a man alive, it makes it look like Paganism is immoral compared to Christianity or that anyone who has a faith is crazy for believing in a power they can't see. "Its thesis is that all faith is delusional, a charade humans being exploit to endulge their darkest desires and petty prejudices in the misguided belief that this will propitiate an all-powerful unseen deity. Christianity is no better than paganism" (Travers, 2009). Although the island is strange, the film is uncanny - it returns us to something we understand such as May Queen festival and celebrating the seasons (see fig 5).

Fig 5. Celebrations.

Bibliography:

Ruthless Reviews. (2017). THE WICKER MAN (1973). [online] Available at: http://www.ruthlessreviews.com/13213/the-wicker-man-1973/ [Accessed 9 Apr. 2017].

Strand, J. (2016). The Wicker Man (1973) Review. [online] Horror Freak News. Available at: http://horrorfreaknews.com/wicker-man-1973-review [Accessed 9 Apr. 2017].

Travers, J. (2009). The Wicker Man (1973) Synopsis and Film Review. [online] Films de France. Available at: http://www.filmsdefrance.com/review/the-wicker-man-1973.html [Accessed 9 Apr. 2017].

Illustration List:

Figure 1. Movie Poster. (1973) [Poster] At: http://www.darkcitygallery.com/The_Wicker_Man_Movie_Poster_p/dm011.htm  (Accessed on 09 April 2017)

Figure 2. Bonfire Ritual. (1973) [Image] At: http://www.rogerebert.com/balder-and-dash/the-wicker-man-the-cut-may-be-final-but-the-film-is-still-incomplete (Accessed on 09 April 2017)

Figure 3. Sacrifice Celebration. (1973) [Image] At: http://www.ruthlessreviews.com/13213/the-wicker-man-1973/ (Accessed on 09 April 2017)

Figure 4. The Wicker Man. (1973) [Image] At: http://horrorfreaknews.com/wicker-man-1973-review (Accessed on 09 April 2017)

Figure 5. Celebrations. (1973) [Image] At: http://www.rogerebert.com/balder-and-dash/the-wicker-man-the-cut-may-be-final-but-the-film-is-still-incomplete (Accessed on 09 April 2017)