1973 horror, dir. Robin Hardy, Edward Woodward, Christopher Lee:
IMDb. Where is Rowan Morrison?
This is a rare example of a horror film that gets nearly
everything right. One of three seminal folk horror films of its day
(the others bring Witchfinder General and Blood on Satan's Claw)
it started by having something slightly different to say, and goes on
with a fine script and cast choices to say it well.
Sergeant Howie's role was turned down by Michael York and David
Hemmings; Woodward was thought of at the time as a hero, but a tough
and relatively unsympathetic one after his run on the spy drama
Callan (1967-1972). This was his first film role; and in the
director's cut we also see the original opening, Howie in church
showing his very hard unsympathetic flavour of Christianity and rigid
morality in all parts of his life. As we'll see later he's not every
very good at that; he happily oversteps his powers as a police officer
the moment legal restrictions are inconvenient to him.
Meanwhile, Christopher Lee was trying to get away from his
Hammer-Dracular stereotype, and is far more openly cheerful here
than he'd generally been seen before. And that of course is the
contrast: cold, hard, but non-murdery Christianity, versus warm,
welcoming, sex-positive paganism (but with the need for real
sacrifice waiting in the wings).
But the thing that truly impresses me here is the film's ability to
stick to its principles: Howie was wanted as the sacrifice, yes, but
the locals have to give him every chance to turn it down. He could
have not persisted with the investigation; he could have rendered
himself impure. But he doesn't, and so the Wicker Man is rendered
inevitable for him. It's vanishingly rare that I meet a film the
makers of which understand honour.
(The studio wanted an upbeat ending with a sudden rainstorm putting
out the fire.)
At the same time, there's room for interpretation here. As I see it,
Lord Summerisle is a genuine believer: if this sacrifice doesn't work,
he will gladly do his duty as the sacred king and go to the fire
himself next year. Or maybe it will work. On the other hand, perhaps
Howie is right and it's all nonsense, and Summerisle is just a fake.
The film doesn't need to tell us how it'll turn out, because to Howie
it won't matter.
There have been various unconvincing plans for a sequel, and one that
even got made; but I think this stands very well on its own.
I talk about this film further on
Ribbon of Memes.