The

Wicker Man was released in 1973. The film is classed by many as a "Folk Horror". The
film was written by Anthony Shaffer and directed by Robin Hardy. The inspiration for the
story came from a novel known as the Ritual Written by the author David Pinner.

Figure 1. Film Poster


The plot line for the film is very unsettling and is strange to watch. It isn't your usual slasher
horror film with blood and gore. Instead the film focuses on paganism and pagan rites
which seems to permeate a scottish island. It is creepy and uncomfortable to watch. The
islanders belief system is contrary to the observed christian beliefs of the investigating
police officer from the mainland.

The film is set during the spring time, showcasing blossom trees and vast amounts of
greenery. Director Robin Hardy explains the efforts they went through to achieve this:

"Making the film was great fun. It was shot in 25 different locations and, since it was set in
spring, and we were shooting in November, we had to glue leaves and blossom on to the
trees wherever we were. The opening sequence, with aerial shots from the plane arriving,
was actually filmed in South Africa, because we didn't have the budget to glue blossom to
that many trees." (Hardy, 24.9.13)

The foliage produces a natural and organic look. However this creates a juxtaposition to a
horror movie by having delicate plants against a dark narrative. The plants however play a
vital role in symbolizing the fertility and sexuality of the women in the film.
"The Wicker Man also has an undeniable nod to Goddess power and the mythical authority
possessed by pregnant women. This is evident by a scene in which pregnant women
traverse through the orchards, touching each tree and plant along the way, presumably to
pass their fertility on to next years harvest." (Amanda, 12.17.14)

Some of the footage appears to be of low quality. I understand that this is because many of
the scenes got lost. The film comes across as a montage of both high and low quality
footage.
"Unfortunately, the versions released in cinemas and subsequently on DVD remain
incomplete. The film described as the directors cut on a current issue restored much that
was lost, but the rough, poorly graded footage sits uncomfortably beside that from the
released print. It looks like the patched-up job it is. So the search is still on." (Clarke, 27.6.13)

In one scene, the policeman Howie enters the classroom, the camera is placed so that the
audience are looking up at him, placing our eyes in the same view as the children. This helps
the audience get a sense of his authority and power among the children.

Figure 2. Film Still

Although the film isn't classed as "musical" it has the potential to be that genre of film due
to the amount of songs played through out the film. The music becomes an important role
in constructing the narrative, giving us implicit meanings to whats happening in each scene,
without the use of dialogue from characters. Many of the songs explain the beliefs of the
people living on the Island.

"Like a number of songs in the film, the music addresses the theme of sexuality as
supposedly practiced and embraced by the belief system of the island; that is overtly with
comment on the eras recent sexual revolution. Its deliberately evocative, as if trying to
seduce the prudish Howie who seems to be an outsider to this isolated community in more
ways than simply geographical." (Amanda, 12.17.14)

The women are very much in control of their own bodies and aren't conforming to a
patriarchal society outside the island. This in some ways could make the film even more
unsettling to the viewers of that era who are used to this way of living.
"Upon viewing the film, it can be ascertained that in a patriarchal society, there is nothing
more terrifying than a woman who has autonomy over her body and who is complete
control of her sexuality." (Amanda, 12.17.14)

Many rituals are displayed within the film. One of the rituals involves a group of school boys
dancing around a maypole, an historic, normal, British tradition. However we later discover
the symbolic meaning of this maypole dance. The Maypole is actually a phallic symbol and
this is explained to a group of school girls by the headmistress herself:
"Sergeant Howie also disagrees with the lessons being taught to school children on the
island. In his quest to find Rowan Morrison, Howie enters an all girls classroom. Miss Rose,
the headmistresses, is teaching the girls about the May Pole, and the significance of the May
Pole as a phallic symbol and regenerative force in their religion...Once they are out of
earshot from the girls, Howie rails into Miss Rose, claiming that the lessons that are being
taught to the children are repugnant." (Amanda, 12.17.14)

Figure 3. Film Still

The film represents patriarchy and production at a time when the industries of farming and
agriculture were in rapid decline. Yet, the film gives a positive spin as to how women were
treated within the cult. The women display their reproductive power whilst the men remain
passive. The police officer himself, believing he is in charge of the investigation and search
of a missing person is actually led by the islanders to his own sacrificial end.

Illustration list

Figure 1. Film Poster
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/11/The_Wicker_Man_%281973_film
%29_UK_poster.jpg/220px-The_Wicker_Man_%281973_film%29_UK_poster.jpg
(Accessed 6.4.17)

Figure 2. Film Still https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-
ticFL8Hqqy4/WNgJ7dSKIOI/AAAAAAAAVf8/sakg24gxoh4b7l4B6vO3fKKN8aBkHD13wCLcB/s1
600/Edward%2BWoodward%2BThe%2BWickerman.PNG (Accessed 6.4.17)


Figure 3. Film Still http://optimumscreenings.co.uk/press/wickerman/WM-014.jpg
(Accessed 6.4.17)


Bibliography

Amanda, 12.17.14 Our More Dreadful Sacrifice: An Appointment With "The Wicker Man"
http://powderroom.kinja.com/our-more-dreadful-sacrifice-an-appointment-with-the-w-
1672309330 (Accessed 6.4.17)



Clarke D, 27.6.14 Have they found the Wicker Man?
http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/screenwriter/2013/07/27/have-they-really-found-the-
wicker-man/ (Accessed 6.4.17)


Hardy R, 24.9.13 How We Made The Wicker Man
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2013/sep/24/how-we-made-wicker-man
(Accessed 6.4.17)