Nic Cage Need Not Apply To Fill This Wicker Man
Is it time for Burning Man already?
Difficult to classify, The Wicker Man is part musical, part satire with definite horror overtones. Overall, the film is a tongue-in-cheek look at the nature of cultural diversity and the possibility that sometimes it just pays to be politically correct.
Written by Anthony Shaffer (Sleuth) and directed by Robin Hardy, this 1973 British film stars a young Edward Woodward as Sergeant Neil Howie, a devoutly Catholic policeman from the Scottish mainland who is sent to the offshore community of Summerisle to investigate the disappearance of a young girl.
What begins as a routine investigation quickly turns into a mass conspiracy seemingly involving every one of the island’s inhabitants — all members of a neo-pagan society who worship the “old gods.”
Howie is instantly thrown off kilt as he encounters firsthand the island’s shockingly open sexuality and ritualistic ceremonies and customs. In a bout of self-righteousness that would not be out of place on Fox News, the shocked Sgt. Howie pledges to not only get to the bottom of the girl’s disappearance, but also to expose the blasphemy that is running rampant on the island. Convinced the girl was part of a human sacrifice, Sgt. Howie will let nothing stand in his way, not even tact, as he battles the island heathens.
The film contains a splattering of supposed ancient Celtic traditions that, when combined with the obvious overtones of the uninhibited early seventies, gives birth to a wonderful mixing of history and exploitation.
As one example, the island folk love their music and the film contains several wonderfully composed and performed traditional song and dance sequences — including one beautifully haunting ballad sung by a gyrating seductress as she plays rhythm by slapping her nude body. Yet another classic trademark of ‘70s horror films.
The near porn like quality of early seventies horror films is a perfect fit with the uninhibited nature of certain Celtic rituals. From the island children’s celebration around the maypole (described as clearly being a phallic symbol by a teacher to her classroom of listening school children) to a dance of fertility done in the buff, the movie changes tones rapidly – developing mysteries so fast that the film’s pace leaves a feeling of whiplash. This rapid-fire nature adds to the audience’s unsettling discomfort as they discover the island’s strange practices along with the outraged Sgt. York.
The film contains a truly memorable performance by the very talented Christopher Lee as Lord Summerisle, the island’s protector and leader.
Channeling a personality that lies somewhere between Liberace and Marshal Applewhite, Lee’s performance of Lord Summerisle is that of a charismatic leader who desperately wants to do the right thing for his people, no matter how misguided he may be in his quest.
Climaxing in a horrific scene that not only reveals the truth behind the island population’s strange beliefs but also introduces the real danger behind the mysterious wicker man, the film leaves audiences with an unpleasant feeling in their gut — but at the same time the faint yet unmistakable traces of a grin upon their face.
In today’s world of cookie-cutter horror films, The Wicker Man is a welcome blast from the past from a decade where crazy cool horror movies could both be amazingly sexual and artsy at the same time. This film does not offer any life-changing morality lessons, nor does it showcase an unbiased portrayal of ancient religions, but audiences are in for a horribly entertaining story that would not be out of place in any one of the classic EC horror comics of yore.
