The Wicker Man

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Joseph M. Davis</div> <bR> <div> What amazes me more than anything about this most unique horror film, is the opening credit. "The Producer would like to thank The Lord of Summerisle and the people of his island, off the west coast of Scotland, for this privileged insight into their religious practices, and for their generous cooperation in the making of this film." </div> <bR> <div> Given the portrayal of the people on this remote Scottish island in the film, it seems as startling as if the Vatican had lent a hand in the filming of <I><B>The Exorcist.</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I>The Wicker Man</I> is a cult classic, widely categorized as a horror film. It is also in some respects a musical.  I hesitate to even mention that for fear of turning off those who do not like musicals, or will mistakenly be expecting something less than the terrifying and unpredictable experience that it is.  The music here never seems out of place. It hypnotizes the viewer into the reality of the story.  And the songs are simply outstanding.  It is a beautiful combination of Scottish folk music that is as terrifying as it is mesmerizing within the context of the film.</div> <bR> <div> The film follows Sergeant Howie (Edward Woodward, TV's <I>The Equalizer</I>) of the Scottish West Island Police as he flies to a mysterious remote island off the Scottish mainland, to investigate a claim that a young girl called Rowan Morrison has disappeared.  Unwittingly, he enters a world known for its climate defying produce, and that harbors secrets far more fascinating and alien than the tropical foliage that oddly thrives there. One of the only common threads within the film that might hint at its true genre as a horror film is the presence of veteran actor Christopher Lee as the Lord of Summerisle.  Interestingly, this role<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Symbol" >¾</FONT>which Lee insists he was paid nothing for<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Symbol" >¾</FONT>is probably his most interesting career performance.  The tone, the atmosphere, and the performances, combine to create an experience that is frightening even during the daylight.</div> <bR> <div> The island culture has somehow reemerged as a time capsule of ancient paganism, native to the isles before the arrival of Christianity.  Islanders are seemingly simple Scottish folk at first glimpse.  As night falls Sgt. Howie sees several people openly having sex outdoors on the grass. In the cemetery he watches a beautiful young woman mourn, crying upon a gravestone, nude.  Nothing seems quite right here, even without these notable red flags.  For such a tightly knit community there seems to be little concern for the missing girl, and Howie's questions seem to be answered with aloof and inconsistent explanations.  </div> <bR> <div> In one hauntingly erotic scene, Howie nearly succumbs to the temptations of the innkeeper's beautiful daughter Willow (Britt Ekland). He manages to barely maintain control through images of his church and his own approaching marriage ceremony.  It is a decision that leads the devout Christian toward a destiny more reflective of the heathen land he has entered than the Christian world that he understands.</div> <bR> <div> As the search intensifies the realization that many of the people of the island, even the children and the elderly, may be in on hiding the girl's whereabouts, adds to the terror and the depth of the developing drama.  The film draws the viewer in deeper and deeper through captivating imagery, like an unholy Immaculate Conception ceremony, performed by nude teenage girls singing in perfect harmony to their gods as they leap over a flame in hopes of delivering an immortal infant.</div> <bR> <div> This is a film so gripping that I found myself having to buy not only the soundtrack, but also the extended version on DVD, encased in a wooden box.  It is truly a rare film that you will watch and enjoy on multiple occasions, each time captivated and anxious of the eventual outcome.  Perhaps my favorite moment in the film is one of the few morsels of comic relief we are given when a villager asks Howie if she can help him.  To that he expresses his sincere doubt, as they are all, as he describes them, raving mad.</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="621" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="617"><div> Joseph M. Davis © 2002</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="617"><div> <A HREF="mailto:Reelmoviec@aol.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:Reelmoviec@aol.com"><U><U>Reelmoviec@aol.com</U></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>