The Wicker Man (Special Edition)

Advantages: Unusual "horror" movie, unexpected ending, interesting
Disadvantages: Its simply not scary enough for my liking!

...usually end up hiding behind the nearest pillow/cussion/arm/person/delete as appropriate. But for some reason or another I feel drawn to scaring myself sh*tless. I guess its usually because a lot of horrors tend to be gory. And as I have a gruesome fascination…. You can fit the rest together yourselves. It is because of this that I don’t usually bother watching older horror films. Not only have I usually seen most of the “scary” scenes on such ...
...also because they’re older, the graphics just don’t live up to my life-like expectations. The Wicker Man was released 10 years before I graced this Earth (in 1973). Normally I wouldn’t be in too much of a rush to see a film of this age. However, as I’ve been interested in witchcraft all of my life and have dabbled in such arts in the past, I thought I’d watch it to see just how far-fetched and un-lifelike this film was. It was shown on TV a couple ... Read review

Advantages: Unexpected ending, tension, music
Disadvantages: Disturbing

The Wicker Man Directed by Robin Hardy Writing Credits Anthony Shaffer Running time: 102 mins Released 1973 Music composed by: Paul Giovanni Music performed by: Magnet Cast:: Edward Woodward: Sergeant Neil Howie Christopher Lee: Lord Summerisle Britt Ekland: Willow Introduction The Wicker Man is a triumph of British Horror. It is internationally regarded as one of the best horror films of all time and has been an influential film for many ...
...and sexual promiscuity. The horror of the film is presented and achieved through a variety of techniques that combine to achieve a discomforting effect throughout the film building up to the climax at the end when the Sergeant keeps his horrifying appointment with the Wicker man. The Setting The film is set on the remote island of Summerisle on the West Coast of Scotland. It is isolated surrounded by water and can only be reached by plane or boat. ... Read review

Advantages: I am glad I've seen it
Disadvantages: I felt let down by all but the ending - which in itself is rather unpleasant

...had always been intrigued by The Wicker Man. It was variously known as a cult film, one of the scariest films of our time, and a film with one of the most surprising and shocking endings imaginable. Despite having heard so much about it, I had managed to find out little else about the film and was only vaguely aware that its subject matter had something to do with paganism. The film stars Edward Woodward as Sergeant Neil Howie, a god-fearing policeman ...
...letter from a resident of the remote island of Summerisle, informing him of the disappearance of a local schoolgirl, Rowan Morrison, who is believed to have vanished under mysterious circumstances. Sergeant Howie sets off to Summerisle to investigate the disappearance. He is met by a strange, unwelcoming community, and it soon becomes clear that the island’s residents subscribe to a sinister religion, worshipping the gods of nature and fertility. ... Read review

Advantages: Great film, really tense, good ending
Disadvantages: No action, if you like that sort of thing.

...film, but if I got the chance (it’s a hard one to find) I would most definitely watch it over again. This is a complex film, perhaps more of a thriller than a true horror, since there is no supernatural element in it. But the sense of dread and foreboding which it builds up is excellent, the twist in its tail totally unexpected and the messages and issues which the film deals with are clear. Edward Woodward arrives on a small island investigating ...
...grow suspicious. His portrayal of the devour Presbyterian policeman is excellent, characterised by prudish behaviour and suspicion, especially when he finds out that the folk of the island are Pagans. He comes to the natural conclusion that the girl has a been a victim of some kind of sacrifice, but can still get nothing out of the locals, especially not the mysterious and thoroughly nonchalant Christopher Lee as Lord Summerisle. Thentension is built ... Read review

Advantages: An intelligent and literate chiller
Disadvantages: That the film has been so butchered down the years

The Wicker Man has a truly magical quality, and I've enjoyed introducing people to it down the years. To see people turn around at the end, eyes wide with astonishment, a slightly crooked smile, and to hear them croakily admit "That was amazing", is worth the hundreds of times I've seen Robin Hardy's brilliant 1973 take on the horror genre. To think, the film puts so many obsticals in the way of a jaded modern viewer of horror. It has a folk soundtrack ...
...wordy and character driven, and the horror is minimal, instead relying on a slow build up of tension until the dread overwhelms you, and then comes the climax...and it still turns me white, and sends chills across my body. Every. Single. Time. That I should even of seen the film is a miracle considering it's history. The chain of events that lead to The Wicker Man's cult, rather than commercial success is amazing in itself. Put into production hastily ... Read review