Stars: Edward Woodward, Christopher Lee, Britt Ekland
Director: Robin Hardy
Let us deal with the elephant in the room – no, I did not choose The Exorcist for 1973. This is my favorite movies and The Exorcist just is not one of them. Do I think it is a classic of the horror genre? Yes, but that doesn't make it one I necessarily enjoy or want to watch again. I can appreciate the acting and direction of The Exorcist. As someone who was raised Catholic, I can definitely relate to the religious aspects of the film but, in the end, I never really connected with the story or the characters.
However, The Wicker Man still chills me to this day. What starts out as a detective story turns into a story of paranoia, gas lighting, and cult behavior and I love every moment of it.
Brief synopsis:
Edward Woodward is Sergeant Neil Howie, a devoutly religious Christian who is searching for a missing girl named Rowan on a small island called Summersisle. As he attempts to find the child, he is constantly hindered by the local citizens, many of who deny that Rowan even exists. Howie refuses to be distracted by the people of the town, the strange customs of the cult he has stumbled into, or even the beguiling charms of Britt Ekland as Willow. He is steadfast and single-minded, determined to solve the mystery. After finally finding evidence of Rowan’s existence at the local school, he is sent to the graveyard and Rowan’s grave. Christopher Lee’s Lord Summersisle allows Howie to exhume the grave but all he finds is a dead hare in the coffin.
Putting together all the clues he has gathered throughout his investigation, Howie becomes certain that Rowan is set to be a sacrifice for the farming community to guarantee a good harvest. Finding all modes of escape destroyed, Howie decides to at least save Rowan from being sacrificed.
Spoilers below (you have been warned):
Sadly, Howie has misread the clues. He is the sacrifice, not Rowan. She was just the bait. After being tricked by Rowan to come to the ceremony, it is revealed that Howie was chosen for multiple reasons, including the fact that he is a virgin. Howie tries to reason with the villagers but they do not listen. He is forced into a giant wicker statue and burned to death.
My thoughts (with spoilers):
You can have Reagan’s spider walk or the head turning around – for me, Howie’s screams as he is being burned alive are far more haunting. From beginning to end, The Wicker Man keeps you on edge. This isn’t a straight-forward detective film, this is a game of cat and mouse. You can understand Howie’s suspicions of the people he is investigating but you can also understand why they are none too keen to talk to him. He is an outsider and visibly disdainful of their beliefs. He rejects anything that does not fit into his belief system as evil and wrong. He isn’t looking for Rowan because he is concerned about her, it is simply his job.
Sadly, Howie’s tunnel vision stops him from missing obvious clues that this is a setup. He is personally sent the information about Rowan and her missing status at his home, not assigned the case by his supervisor. The people deny her existence from the outset, but no one encourages him to leave. He is a pure man, refusing to partake in anything that might stain his soul or character, no matter the temptations the town constantly places before him. He even dismisses it when his only way of leaving the island is sabotaged, stranding him there for good.
But it is Howie’s refusal to bend from the straight and narrow that eventually seals his fate. He refuses to be enticed by Willow to lose his virginity or even have a small drink. His obvious discomfort and inability to change only makes each scene more tense. Edward Woodard, who would later find fame as another lawman in The Equalizer, is perfect as the fastidious inspector. We don’t really like Howie, but we understand his motivation and admire his determination to save Rowan.
His foil, Lord Summersisle, is perfectly played by the legendary Christopher Lee. Lord Summersisle is a man on his own mission who wants one thing – to make sure the sacrifice goes off as planned. He is the cat toying with mouse Howie. Lee has a smarmy charm to him and it is easy to believe that his people follow him without question. Just as Howie blindly follows his Lord, Jesus, the islanders blindly follow their Lord, Summersisle.
The Wicker Man is a must watch for any horror fan. The horror of it is not as in your face as The Exorcist but more of a slow burn that creeps into your head and creates a sense of dread and unease. We know something is wrong with this community and the dawning realization that Howie is in real danger from them builds and builds. Once we reach the final crescendo with the titular Wicker Man and his date with Howie, we can’t help but be devastated that he didn’t manage to escape his fate. As his screams echo through the final scene, all hope leaves the film. The Exorcist leaves with you hope that Reagan and her mother might eventually have a normal life, that Father Karras’s sacrifice was for the greater good. Howie’s death is for nothing as another person innocent person will die the next time the crops wither even a little bit.
Other films from 1973 to check out:
Disney’s Robin Hood – love the animals, especially fox Robin Hood and vixen Maid Marian
High Plains Drifter – not normally a fan of Westerns but this tale of ghostly revenge is more horrific than a lot of the horror films released this year
Live and Let Die – Roger Moore’s first outing as James Bond and an amazing them song by Paul McCartney and Wings