Film Review
Often cited as the best of British horror films,
The Wicker Man is certainly one of
the most unusual and disturbing films in the horror genre, a cult
classic that still manages to shock audiences and divide critical
opinion. In the late 1970s, the American film magazine
Cinefantastique described it as the Citizen Kane of horror movies - not
a bad outcome for a low budget film that failed to find an audience on
its first release and suffered multiple cuts and various restoration
attempts.
The film's origin was as chaotic and unpredictable as its subsequent
history. Writer Anthony Shaffer was keen to script an adaptation
of David Pinner's novel
Ritual.
The actor Christopher Lee was eager to break away from the Gothic
horror films that he was most associated with. And Peter Snell,
head of British Lion, wanted to make a popular low budget film that
would help salvage his ailing company. The three men had a shared
interest in the project but it soon became apparent that Pinner's novel
was to weak to provide the basis for a film. With director Robin
Hardy, they developed an alternative storyline, which evolved into
The Wicker Man. The story
would depict a confrontation between the beliefs of the past - Celtic
paganism - and those of the present - Christianity. It would be
far more than a conventional horror film. It would explore some
powerful existentialist and metaphysical themes, showing the dangers
inherent in any religion and the evil that can follow from an
unquestioning adherence to any belief system. Shaffer undertook
meticulous research to ensure that pagan customs were faithfully
represented in the film, a factor that added greatly to its stark
documentary feel and realism.
After Michael York and David Hemmings turned down the lead role, the
part of the ill-fated Sergeant Howie went to Edward Woodward, who, at
the time, was familiar to British audiences for playing the lead in the
hit gritty television spy series
Callan.
Christopher Lee was an obvious casting choice for the sinister laird of
Summerisle and gives what the actor considers to be his best
performance. Swedish film star Britt Ekland was cast as the
nymphomaniac temptress who attempts to seduce Woodward, although her
inability to deliver a Scottish accent led to all of her dialogue being
dubbed by Annie Ross. The infamous erotica sequence in which
Ekland dances nude in her bedroom was partly shot with a double because
the actress was in the early stages of pregnancy at the time.
It was during the making of this film that British Lion ran into severe
financial difficulties, just as the British film industry was heading
for terminal decline. The company was rescued by wealthy
entrepreneur John Bentley who, to prove that he wasn't out to asset
strip, insisted that the film be put into production fast. Hence
The Wicker Man was shot earlier
than planned, over an eight week period in autumn 1972. Since the
story takes place in spring, the exteriors had to be dressed with
plastic trees and fake blossoms, trickery which doesn't quite achieve
the desired result. The film was shot on location in
various mainland Scottish towns, including Newton Stewart, and because
of the budgetary restrictions several members of the cast and crew
(including Christopher Lee) forwent their modest pay cheques. By
the time the film had been completed, British Lion had changed hands
again, and was now owned by EMI.
The Wicker Man's release was
compromised by poor marketing and EMI's inability (or unwillingness) to
find a suitable American distributor. The film was subject to
several cuts, which reduced its length from 99 minutes down to 87
minutes (and this after Hardy had removed several sequences, including
an unnecessary preamble on the mainland). As a result of these
three factors, the film failed to find an audience and performed far
worse at the box office than anyone had anticipated. It fell into
obscurity for a few years before Robin Hardy decided, in 1976, to
restore the film. Unfortunately, much of the cut footage had been
lost and only a partial restoration was possible at the time.
It was not until 2001 that a near-complete restoration of the original
film was achieved, thanks to the efforts of its new owners, Canal+ and
Anchor Bay. In the interim period, the film's reputation grew
massively and it soon acquired a cult status. Today,
The Wicker Man is both popular
with audiences and highly regarded by critics and film historians, with
many asserting that it is one of the finest horror films of all
time. A Hollywood remake came along in 2006, starring Nicholas
Cage, but this singularly lacks the understated menace, moral subtext
and horrific climax of the original. Robin Hardy is currently
working on a sequel to
The Wicker Man,
entitled
Cowboys for Christ,
to be released in 2009, with Christopher Lee again playing a lead
character.
The Wicker Man is unlike any
other horror film, weaving together black comedy, thriller, folk
tradition and musical into a chilling morality tale which manages to be
more frightening and effective on a second or third viewing.
Watching the film for the first time, it has a whimsical charm and
gentility which makes its dramatic ending a genuine surprise, one that
is almost unbearably horrific. On subsequent viewings, the film
is increasingly dark and unsettling, since now we know that beneath the
surface whimsy there lies something truly horrible.
What is particularly disturbing about
The
Wicker Man is what it appears to be saying about religion.
Its thesis is that all faith is delusional, a charade human beings
exploit to indulge their darkest desires and petty prejudices in the
misguided belief that this will propitiate an all-powerful unseen
deity. Christianity is no better than paganism and perhaps, in a
few centuries, will be regarded in the same way that we currently
regard Druidism - superstitious folly. The burning of the Wicker
Man is a potent symbol of the ultimate fate that awaits mankind unless
he grows up and learns to accept the reality of his solitary godless existence.
© James Travers 2009
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