The Wicker Man

R

Released Aug 7, 1974

1 hr. 42 min.

Mystery & Thriller

Horror

List

91%

64 Reviews

Tomatometer

82%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Sergeant Howie (Edward Woodward) arrives on the small Scottish island of Summerisle to investigate the report of a missing child. A conservative Christian, the policeman observes the residents' frivolous sexual displays and strange pagan rituals, particularly the temptations of Willow (Britt Ekland), daughter of the island magistrate, Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee). The more Sergeant Howie learns about the islanders' strange practices, the closer he gets to tracking down the missing child.

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Critics Consensus

This intelligent horror film is subtle in its thrills and chills, with an ending that is both shocking and truly memorable.

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Dan R

After the debacle which was the 2006 remake I decided to save my sanity with the original 1973 'The Wicker Man'. SYNOPSIS: 'A puritan police sergeant arrives in a Scottish island village in search of a missing girl, who the pagan locals claim never existed.' Although the remake shares the same premise of the original film, and a lot of the same dialogue, they're very different films. They're night and day. Poles apart. This film is an intelligent horror film which builds the chills and the horror slowly and subtly. It's part folk musical, part occult chiller, and quite bonkers. Edward Woodward is incredible as the religious police officer who is offended by everything he finds on the island before his untimely and horrific death. The film is also a fantastic look at the horror genre of 1970's Britain and the things which were considered to be disturbing and upsetting to the general public at the time. 'The Wicker Man' is a minimalistic horror masterpiece. A classic. Is this the most impactful and disturbing ending in movie history? 9/10

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/12/24

Full Review

Madie R

"The Wicker Man" shows viewers that a good horror movie doesn't need to rely on jump scares or gory slashings to frighten the audience. I'd classify the movie more as a disturbing suspenseful drama/mystery about religious philosophy. Also surprised by the great score and music.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/25/24

Full Review

Tyler G

The Wicker Man does a great job leading up to the spectacular ending reveal with the help of a fantastic soundtrack. It's one of my favorite horror reveals.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/02/24

Full Review

billybob 1

While the threat of death is lingering, the main character is more worried that the cult does not have a Christian faith. It's dated, but well-made. Clearly, Midsommar ripped half this movie off.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/23/24

Full Review

S. C

Unsettling and suspenseful. Great for its time and the finale still holds up really well to this day. I liked Christopher Lee's performance the most.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/14/24

Full Review

ewan m

My favourite film, a bit crazy, but having lived in the west Highlands not that unbelievable, until all the incomers arrived post internet.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/28/23

Full Review

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Robin Hardy

Director

Edward Woodward

Sergeant Neil Howie

Christopher Lee

Lord Summerisle

Britt Ekland

Willow

Diane Cilento

Miss Rose

Lindsay Kemp

Alder MacGreagor

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Steven D. Greydanus

Decent Films

The gothic ambiance and mood synonymous with the era's familiar tales of unholy menace is wholly absent. If there is evil here, it doesn't know it's evil.

Rated: B-

Oct 29, 2008

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

Anthony Shaffer penned the screenplay which, for sheer imagination and near-terror, has seldom been equalled.

Oct 7, 2008

Full Review

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Robin Hardy's 1973 cult horror film passed through several distributors, several versions, and several bankruptcies, picking up a powerful reputation along the way.

Oct 7, 2008

Full Review

June Butler

Film Ireland Magazine

The Wicker Man is an epithet to the desecration of purity.

Mar 18, 2024

Full Review

Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

...locating a beating pagan heart behind Scottish superstitions, The Wicker Man shows civilised man at a loss, out of his depth and helpless in the face of a fervent radicalism he thought had long-since vanished…

Rated: 5/5

Feb 20, 2024

Full Review

Brian Bisesi

Horror Movie Club Podcast

Despite a lack of horror in the first two acts of the film, The Wicker Man succeeds largely due to an adept performance of a well-written character. This makes the climax feel all the more powerful and worth the wait.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 6, 2023

Full Review

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Synopsis

Sergeant Howie (Edward Woodward) arrives on the small Scottish island of Summerisle to investigate the report of a missing child. A conservative Christian, the policeman observes the residents' frivolous sexual displays and strange pagan rituals, particularly the temptations of Willow (Britt Ekland), daughter of the island magistrate, Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee). The more Sergeant Howie learns about the islanders' strange practices, the closer he gets to tracking down the missing child.

Director: Robin Hardy
Screenwriter: Anthony Shaffer
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: British Lion Film Corporation
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 7, 1974, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Jul 7, 2023
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 6, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $61.8K
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, Flat (1.85:1)

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