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THE WICKER MAN (1973) (***1/2)

I saw this film on the big screen in college and hated it. It probably had something to do with that fact that I was required to go see it outside of class, which prompted such disdain. It's also a bit dated, which takes some getting use to.

Sergeant Neil Howie (Edward Woodward, BECKET) is sent a letter that a girl has gone missing on a private island. When he goes to investigate, the townsfolk at first deny her existence. But Sgt. Howie quickly discovers proof that she not only existed, but may have been murdered. Disturbing the extremely repressed Christian detective more is that the island is inhabited by pagans, who worship sun and orchard gods, engage in public sex and erect monuments to the penis.

Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee, LORD OF THE RINGS) is the ruler of the isle, whose family has owned the land for centuries. He embraces his pagan religion as blindly as Howie embraces Christianity. This is the core conflict of the film — two forms of religious extremism clashing. The hotel owner's daughter Willow (Britt Ekland, THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN) even tries to seduce Sgt. Howie with a provocative song while he tries to go to bed. This scene is really dated with its music and "risqué" material.

As the mystery of the missing girl becomes more ominous and Howie becomes more disturbed by the pagans, the smiling faces of the townsfolk become more creepy. The ending can probably be figured out, but it doesn't change its power.

This murder mystery/ horror film is fascinating in that it can be read in many ways. It tells its tale fairly straightforward and allows the audience to interpret meaning from what goes on. Though the film is not nearly as shocking as it was upon its release, the film still illuminates issues of religion and how blind devotion can skew one's perspective. This haunting mystery holds images and ideas that aren't easily forgotten.

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Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks