The Wicker Man
Tuesday, November 24th, 2009
The film the Wicker Man has the dream like quality of Alice in Wonderland. An innocent – the Policeman Sergeant Howie, played brilliantly by Edward Woodward goes to a remote Scottish Island to investigate a missing person and finds himself in a strange world where those things that lay beneath the surface, that usually come to us in dreams, are the web and weave of everyday life.
These things, the beautiful young naked women scratching and tapping at Woodward’s bedroom wall, the blanket refusal of the Islanders to give him a straight answer, the people in animal masks, the people having sex in the graveyard and finally the burning totemic wicker figure are the id made flesh and the moment the strict Christian copper arrives in this world he is doomed.
The drama of his moving towards the film’s climax is one of the most memorable, original and bonkers dramas that British Cinema has produced. And the final scene is one of those scenes in cinema, like the shower scene in Psycho or when Gene Kelly sings in the rain that totally consumes you.
Here’s a trailer.
The DVD I have was given away by The Guardian and is probably the best DVD ever given away by a British newspaper. The sleeve notes claim that it is 84 minutes long but I think it is the original 88 minute release.
You can get the film, the soundtrack or the book (and the sequel novel) by following the links below.
The original release of The Wicker Man from Amazon UK here
The original release of The Wicker Man from Amazon USA here
The Director’s Cut of The Wicker Man from Amazon UK here
The Soundtrack of The Wicker Man from Amazon UK here
The Soundtrack of The Wicker Man from Amazon USA here
The novelization of the film The Wicker Man from Amazon UK here
The novelization of the film The Wicker Man from Amazon USA here.
Robin Hardy has written a sequel novel Cowboys for Christ (find it here – UK. or here- USA which I believe is about to be made into a film.
This website is an excellent resource about the original film.
Sadly Edward Woodward has recently died . I’d argue that in a career with a number of fine performances this was his best. He performance as a man restrained by his religious sensibilities, who is quite uncharismatic and who is out of his depth in this libidinous pagan world is pitch perfect. A magnificent piece of work.
As part of my clearing the attic project I’m keeping this film. Any other action would be idiotic.
