The Wicker Man (1973)

written by Anthony Shaffer

based on the novel Ritual by David Pinner

directed by Robin Hardy

Well, this is certainly one of the strangest movies I have ever seen. A policeman (Edward Woodward) is summoned to a remote Scottish island when a young girl goes missing. Once there, he realizes the tight-knit community harbors many secrets, among them a belief in Celtic gods, open copulation, and pagan rituals. Are they hiding the lost girl? Does the town leader (Christopher Lee) know more than he seems? Will the detective – a Christian and a virgin – succumb to the spell of the landlord’s daughter as she croons an erotic ballad?

The Wicker Man is a peculiar horror film that achieves a rather creepy atmosphere through the use of surreal imagery, singing, and dancing. I’m not sure why the combination works, but it does. All I know is that the final twist is unexpected, horrible… and curiously fitting. It will haunt your nightmares for the rest of your life. Oh, and avoid the god-awful 2006 remake with Nicolas Cage… unless you’re looking for a good laugh.

Click here to read Rogelio Rodríguez’ review on my sister site Cinesthesia.

Rating: ***

Carlos I. Cuevas