100 Horror Movies: 2. The Wicker Man (1973)

The Wicker Man has gained cult status in the history of British horror and is viewed by many to be a masterpiece. Unfortunately, its frequent inclusion in documentaries and articles about the history of British cinema has led many critics to assume that everyone has seen the film, and recently there has been a tendency for them to reveal the ending, ruining it for the next generation of viewers.

It's a shame that so many film critics seem to be unable to discuss The Wicker Man without doing this. Whilst the final scenes do, without doubt, leave a lasting impression on the viewer, this isn't the only thing that the film has to offer.

One of The Wicker Man's most impressive features is the quality of its cast's acting. Edward Woodward is thoroughly convincing as Sergeant Neil Howie, the strongly principled police officer who is called to the small island of Summerisle, off the coast of Scotland, by an anonymous letter writer, who asks him to investigate the disappearance of a young girl, Rowan Morrison (Geraldine Cowper).

When Howie arrives at Summerisle, he finds that the community is determined to be as unhelpful as possible, leading him on a merry dance as he tries to get to the bottom of the mystery. Howie's frustration rapidly turns to revulsion as he realises that Summerisle is entrenched in ancient pagan beliefs which revolve around fertility rituals. Its inhabitants, led by the charmingly bizarre Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee), indulge in behaviour completely at odds with Howie's devout Christian convictions and his belief in the importance of the law.

The director, Robin Hardy, manages to create a convincing and beautifully other-worldy atmosphere on Summerisle, which is enhanced by the use of folk songs throughout the film and by the spectacular Scottish scenery.

One of the film's outstanding achievements is that we, along with Howie, see the more sinister aspects of the community reveal themselves gradually. Although initially Howie isn't a character that you feel you'll warm to, due to his officiousness and self-righteousness, we follow him through the twists and turns of his investigation and begin to have more and more sympathy for him.

All in all, The Wicker Man's reputation as a classic film is well deserved. Now that a Director's Cut, featuring an extra 15 minutes of footage that was cut from the film before its cinema release, has been released on DVD, if you don't already own a copy of this movie, you really should buy it.