The Wicker Man (1973)
Saved on this device. to keep it.
Where to watch
Source: JustWatch
A devout Christian policeman flies to a remote Scottish island to find a missing girl. The villagers insist she never existed. He finds ritualistic phallic symbols, children taught pagan hymns in school, and a nude woman singing through his bedroom wall. He never once considers turning back.
THE WICKER MAN (1973) sends Sergeant Neil Howie, played by Edward Woodward, into Summerisle, ruled by Christopher Lee's Lord Summerisle, a laird who abandoned Christianity for the old gods. Howie's rigid faith makes him certain he is the one sane man in a village gone mad. His certainty may be his undoing.
Anthony Shaffer's screenplay, based on David Pinner's novel Ritual, treats folk religion with a seriousness horror rarely offers it. The island's May Day rites, the songs, the masks, the processions, are staged with an anthropologist's attention rather than pure spectacle. Britt Ekland's Willow, Diane Cilento's Miss Rose, and Ingrid Pitt's librarian all belong to a community that functions as a single, coherent organism.
Robin Hardy directed it on a modest budget in Scotland, and the result became the founding text of folk horror.
Physical media
4K UHDStudio CanalUPC 5055201850706
4K UHDLionsgate FilmsUnited StatesRegion freeUPC 031398341864
Blu-rayLions GateUPC 0031398182108
DVDLions GateUPC 031398103615
DVDLionsgateUPC 013131142297
About the film
Flesh to touch...Flesh to burn! Don't keep the Wicker Man waiting!
- Directed by
- Robin Hardy
- Runtime
- 93 minutes
- Released
- December 6, 1973
- US theatrical
- December 21, 2013
- Certification
- R
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Starring
- Edward Woodward, Christopher Lee, Britt Ekland, Diane Cilento, Ingrid Pitt
More credits
- Genres
- Horror
- Language
- English
- Origin
- GB
- Studios
- British Lion Films
- Written by
- Anthony Shaffer, David Pinner
- Produced by
- Peter Snell
- Cinematography
- Harry Waxman
- Music
- Paul Giovanni
- Also starring
- Roy Boyd, Lesley Mackie, Walter Carr, Irene Sunters, Lindsay Kemp
- Budget
- $810,000
- Box office
- $885,371
This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.
A true classic.
Brilliant and horrifying.
The “founding text of folk horror”? I adore this movie, but there were other greats that came before it, too. I highly recommend The Blood on Satan’s Claw and Lokis: a Manuscript of Professor Wittembach.
Those are just my faves that spring to mind. There was also another Christopher Lee film where he battled occult forces, but I can’t remember the title… think it had some fascinating depictions of rituals.
Witchfinder General is one of the greatest films ever but I’m not sure it counts, since… wait that would be a spoiler. Nevermind 😅
Banjo Booker Yeah, that’s a little hyperbolic. The true beginning of folk horror as a film sub-genre is pretty fuzzy. I would put “Blood on Satan’s Claw” there for sure. As to the other Christopher Lee film, I wonder if you’re thinking of “To the Devil a Daughter.” (Edit: You’ve convinced me to change it to “a” founding text.)
Banjo Booker Wondering if the Lee film you referred to was “The Devil Rides Out”?
Donald Showalter I think that’s it! Will have to re-watch it sometime to be sure. Cheers!
Anywhere But Hollywood as someone else commented I think it might have been The Devil Rides Out, but that one definitely looks worth a watch too. Both based on Dennis Wheatley novels, apparently!
in literature it’s a pretty strong offshoot of Gothic very much en vogue up to around the 1930’s
Banjo Booker I was 10 years old when I saw The Blood on Satan’s Claw for the first time. It was the only horror film that ever scared me.
When people say this film was “brilliant” I feel like I’m living in the Solomon-Asch experiment.
Autumn Esquivel you don’t have to. I hated the Alien franchise, derivative bubble gum films.
Autumn Esquivel Or maybe it’s just not for you?
Autumn Esquivel or maybe Star Wars was complete boring drivel to me…. each to their own.
Probably my favorite horror film.
Fantastic movie. A rare case when the film is so much better than the novel.
Good film. The remake was awful
All I know is I was 12 years old and fell in love with a body double.
My favorite roast of Protestantism… or was it a just a story about roasting a Protestant?
Christine Gavlas too soon! 😆
Let’s give Christopher Lee some credit for this excellent movie.
David Sisk He was interviewed by a local film critic in New Orleans after the film was made. I found it online a few years ago, and he confirmed that he donated his talent to the project. https://twm.fandom.com/wiki/The_Wicker_Man_(1973)_Wikia?file=Christopher_Lee__Robin_Hardy_on_The_Wicker_Man
This is an elite tier film and I don’t even like horror.
Nathan O’Keefe I can understand the label “horror” but to me this is a drama with some excruciating moments of terror. I recollect being one stunned teen when I first saw it. Woodward was brilliant in my remembrance as he was as shocked as I was and I feared for him.
Thanks to being a card carrying member of the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, I saw one of the earliest screenings in Los Angeles. Just a great film all around.
Jeff Farley That’s amazing. Thanks for sharing that! I didn’t discover this movie until well into the 21st century, on a used DVD.
No Edward Woodward(The Equalizer) on the gallery.
Siegfred Santillan if you look closey youii. See him in side the wicker man take a close in the fire now do you see him
An overlooked and underrated masterpiece with Christopher Lee’s best performance, but also wonderful support by everyone especially Ingrid Pitt. A genuine must see ❤️🎥
One of my very favorite films! A timeless classic!
It certainly made one think.were the folk ways religion as effective, if not more so, than the Christian fites and mythology?
Bad rap for the Pagan Community! I dislike this film.
Robert Whitford as a lifelong pagan I completely disagree.
David Sorcher That’s why we are allowed our own opinions.
Robert Whitford didn’t know i was denying you your opinion, only stating my own.
🎶 “Sing, cuckoo, now; sing, cuckoo; Sing, cuckoo; sing, cuckoo, now!” 🎶
Stella in Philly turned me onto this cult classic
So much fun, and as a pagan it was nice to see the folk customs. A Christian being killed instead of a witch was a nice turnaround, and the premise of the movie was all religions are made up by people to control other people. Edward Woodward was brilliant. It scared my Christisn friends, but I explained witches have been maligned, tortured and murdered by Christians, plus the attacks on the heathens, Muslims and Jewish people by Christians, and Christians killing Christians so it was payback in a movie.
Christina Slater you missed out Jewish people still m.rdering muslims paid for by americans
Great movie.
He does consider getting reinforcements, but his plane has been sabotaged.
“The inestimable Christopher Lee stars in this holiday tale of community and what it means to be an outsider warmly embraced by unfamiliar traditions.” My spoiler-free review from a few years back.
Tony Oberlin “warmly embraced” HAHAHAHA
The Movie was referred to as The Citizen Kane of Horror Movies
Ken Krochmal I’d say more like Casablanca; clearly best results of a team effort.
Great movie. Follow it with Midsommar and you’ve got a pagan freak out film festival
I saw this as a teenager and was horrified. It takes its time, no jump scares or gore or cheap tricks. Ingrid Pitt is hot, even though she was only on theovie for two minutes.
An amazing movie. Unfortunately, it is often shown in a version which edits out most of the horror.
Eileen Sullivan The short version has him staying one night instead of two, so lots missing.
Fantastic movie and much better than it’s remake!
very scary… and with Lindsay Kemp too!
One of my top ten films.
I was not impressed. Felt like the screenwriter had read the Cliff’s Notes version of The Golden Bough. A very superficial and sensationalized treatment of Neopaganism for the horror fandom.
Such an epic ending. No gods to the rescue, neither pagan nor Christian.
Ken Osborne but the following year if there is no crop again, no less than Lord Summerisle must be sacrificed…..
Alan Bond exactly.
Best horror movie ever! And–bonus–Christopher Lee sings.
Saw it once…… never again. Creeped me out so bad! 😱
We watch it every May Day. Don’t know why anybody bothered remaking it; it’s perfect!
Ronald Howerton yes it was very well done for a small amount of money and then horribly awful with a load of money with the hammy Nicolas Cage.
Has anyone seen the parody using Teletubbies???
Best. Movie. Ever!
Great film.
One of my favorite movies. The original is best.
A horrible movie that does a terrible injustice to pagans.
Tina Clark as a lifelong pagan I completely disagree.
A truly fabulous film.
Why does Christopher Lee look like Wayne Coyne?
Not sponsored by The Scottish Tourist Board. Prob’ly.
An absolute fav. Wickedly funny, smart, and merciless.
Please be aware that the version common on most streaming platforms is the greatly truncated original theatrical release. During the 80s the (mostly) restored full cut was all over the place on VHS, but the print got lost. I highly recommend seeking out Dir. Robin Hardy’s The Wicker Man: The Final Cut. It’s still missing the mainland scenes at the beginning, but most of the rest of the footage has been restored.
David Schmidt I’ve seen the mainland version and while it does give Howie a bit of background I prefer it starting when he flies in to the island.
I do like how the two young cops are joking about Officer Howie “keeping himself pure the wedding day”. It helps establish the rumor, so it makes sense that the Summerisle folks could know he was a virgin. Otherwise, it might seem odd. 🙂
David Schmidt Is there not some reference later? Long time since I’ve seen it. Have to watch again…
Peter Kent but that background is essential to his character and what made him the perfect sacrifice. I do understand why cinematically you prefer the other version, but unfortunately that version doesn’t give you enough of those opening scenes in the flashbacks. There probably could have been a way to integrate that important character info into the film at a later point, but the shorter version really fails to do that well enough.
David Sorcher It seemed to do it well enough for me, but maybe amongst all the versions one of them spells it out a bit more.
i agree, for a long time you could only see the ‘double bill’ shortened version or the version with the opening scenes on the mainland. I always thought the opening scene of Howie flying over Skye was the best intro.
Definitely a top 5 in folk horror.
There is a wide range of what can be considered folk horror. The Wicker Man contains all the elements that place it solidly in this category.
One of my very favorite movies.
A great movie with a happy ending!
Excellent film
My absolute favorite folk horror movie.
GREAT FILM WITH AN AMAZING SOUNDTRACK MY PARTNER RECENTLY GOT IT ON CD!❤️
One of my favorite movies. Nice music in it too!
Great movie. Still holds up.
An interesting take on pagan fertility customs, the final shot of the title character as the camera pans out is truly horrifying. I refused to see the remake; it seemed like blasphemy to me that someone could do a better job at telling this story with American actors. Like Eggers’ remake of Nosferatu, Give me the artistically brilliant Herzog’s or the frightening B&W Murnau original.
One of my favorites.
Definitely look for the longest version you can find.
One of my faves and one I rewatch every few years or so.
I like to think of it as a musical comedy disguised as a murder mystery masquerading as a horror film. 😉
Howie does try to leave the island but his plane won’t start. It’s implied that the locals sabotaged it to keep him from bringing more policemen to the island.
Great picture. A musical too. Folk horror! Watch Midsommar with it. WICKER MAN is outstanding from the right toe to the left toe.
Willow’s song! ❤️
Apocalypse song: https://youtu.be/DZ8mIxS8B7c
Love that movie. It was startling in ‘73.
Always lose your virginity as soon as possible lest you be sacrificed by an island full of oddballs.
Love it. What’s her face looked nasty nakedness. The child fucker. Lol otherwise one of my favs.
One of the most underappreciated films ever. And Woodward was excellent in it.
Still scares me to this day..and I’m in my 70s..
I love horror and zombies..must have been at an impressionable age when I saw this movie.
I remember the shock of the ending. Did NOT see that coming.
Appalling bad movie with a dubiously high reputation.
Love the slappy bottom dance!