Overview"The Wicker Man", directed by Robin Hardy in 1973, is regarded as among the best British scary movies. This suspenseful mystery-thriller combines aspects of scary, drama, and musicals, covered in a pagan cult story. The film primarily focuses around an upright and devout Christian, Sergeant Neil Howie and his encounter with a pagan community on a remote Scottish island. The screenplay was composed by Anthony Shaffer, and the central cast consists of Edward Woodward as Sergeant Neil, Christopher Lee as Lord Summerisle, and Britt Ekland as Willow.
PlotThe movie begins when Sergeant Neil Howie, known for his strong conviction towards Christianity, receives an anonymous letter about a missing out on regional woman, Rowan Morrison, on Summerisle Island. Howie journey's to the remote island to investigate and is instantly engrossed in the perverse methods of this isolated community. The islanders live in a society surrounded by eroticism, favoring natural and vintage pagan traditions, directly clashing with Howie's Christian beliefs.
Frustratingly for Howie, the locals show unwilling to comply in the investigation. Incredibly elusive and puzzling, they even reject the presence of Rowan. As the examination deepens, Howie gradually uncovers the island's disturbing secret involving odd routines and human sacrifices necessary for their worthwhile harvest.
Climax and RevelationAs the film approaches its climactic end, Howie uncovers that Rowan's disappearance was a ruse the whole time, designed to attract him, a virgin, god-fearing guy, to the island for their sacrifice to bring prosperity to their crops. He's deceived by the community leader, Lord Summerisle, who persuades him into attending their May Day celebrations wearing the Punch costume, ironically hiding the real wicker man.
In the gripping final, Howie is led atop a high-cliff, where he experiences the missing out on lady who tempts him into a giant wooden effigy of 'the wicker man'. The horrifying realization occurs to him that he is the islanders' picked offering to their gods when he is trapped and the wicker man is set on fire.
Final Analysis"The Wicker Man" provides as much review on religious fanaticism and conflicting cultures as it does cooling suspense and horror. The film utilizes lively and eerily cheerful tunes throughout to include another degree of unsettling irony, setting it apart from other scary movies.
Edward Woodward's portrayal of Sergeant Howie brilliantly encapsulates the shock and horror of coming across such a dramatically various culture and the terror of his doomed fate. Christopher Lee, in contrast, stumbles upon almost charmingly ominous as the orchestrator of this chilling series of occasions.
The movie culminates in horror as Howie understands he's fallen victim to the cult's conspiracy, becoming the ultimate human sacrifice. The image of the burning wicker guy functions as a dark symbol of cultural and religious misunderstandings.
In conclusion, "The Wicker Man" stands the test of time as an iconic cult horror movie. Deeply atmospheric, packed full of an ever-growing sense of fear, it presents an engaging commentary on the clash of religious beliefs and the dangers of blind faith, wrapped in a scary folktale.
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