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The Wicker Man

The 100 Best Horror Movies of All Time - Variety, 2024

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Original title

The Wicker Man

Year

1973

Running time

85 min.

Country

United Kingdom

Director

Robin Hardy

Screenwriter

Anthony Shaffer. Novel: David Pinner

Cast

Music

Paul Giovanni

Cinematography

Harry Waxman

Producer

British Lion Film Corporation

Genre

Mystery. Horror | Folk Horror. Religion. Small Town Life (Non-North American). Cop Movies. Kidnapping Film / Disappearance. Sects / Extremist Cults. Satire. Cult movie

Movie Groups

The Wicker Man

Synopsis

This controversial British cult classic, considered by its producer upon completion to be one of the worst films ever made, has been little seen since its brief theatrical release even though it is now regarded as a classic of British cinema. Edward Woodward stars as Sergeant Howie, a police officer sent to Summerisle, a secluded island off the coast of Scotland, to investigate the disappearance of a young girl named Rowan. When he arrives there, he finds a very tight knit community, one mistrustful and hostile to outsiders--none of them seem willing to even acknowledge the disappearance of young Rowan. Soon Howie begins to realise that the town belongs to some sort of pagan cult, one given to unbridled sexuality and possibly human sacrifice. Seeking an audience with the oddly civilised Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee), Howie hopes to get to the bottom of the mystery, but instead finds something more shocking than he could have ever imagined.

A true cult classic that paints a disturbing portrait of an almost prehistoric, multi-deity worshipping society given to Bacchanalian excess and bizarre rituals, THE WICKER MAN is a truly unsettling experience. Erotic and mysterious, the film evokes the primal urges that underlay modern society through its unforgettable imagery and story.

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Rankings Position

#74 Best Horror Movies

Critics' reviews

"Bracing, exciting and downright funny (...) a product of true vision made for little money that endures both as a film and as a key object of influence"

The Guardian
"The Wicker Man is, more than anything else, a film about what people can do in the name of religion or, more generally, belief (...) Rating: ★★★★★ (out of 5)"

Adam Smith: Empire
"The satirical masterpiece goes well beyond what one expects from folk horror (...) Rating: ★★★★★ (out of 5)"

Peter Bradshaw: The Guardian
"The Wicker Man ultimately succeeds on the strength of its powerful imagery, its increasingly chilling tone, and its final, sudden shock."

Tasha Robinson: AV Club
"It’s a high-water mark, not just of horror but British cinema itself (...) Rating: ★★★★★ (out of 5)"

Phil de Semlyen: Time Out
"An odd, one-of-a-kind little film that features an involving plot by Anthony Shaffer and a performance by Christopher Lee that the iconic actor declares is his best"

Kenneth Turan: Los Angeles Times

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The Wicker Man

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