The Wicker Man (1973)
On Sunday, 29 April 1973, Sergeant Neil Howie of the West Highland Constabulary flew solo to Summerisle, off the coast in Scotland. To follow up on an anonymous Summerisle source’s letter reporting that Rowan Morrison (a 12-year-old girl living on the island) has been missing for some time, he is on his way. Rowan is also included in the correspondence. Howie arrives on Summerisle and discovers that most of the people are not very knowledgeable. They also don’t know anything about the little girl shown in the photograph. The seven-year old Myrtle Morrison, Mrs. Morrison, admits that she has a daughter. However, no Rowan. Howie begins to suspect that Rowan is or was a resident of the island. However, the locals keep their information from him. He begins to realize that all the people in the area have pagan beliefs. Their “religion,” which centers around procreation, is also evident. He also discovers that procreation doesn’t necessarily have to take place in marriage. This is not in keeping with Howie’s Christian beliefs, who attends church regularly, receives communion, and prays. Every thing that takes place on the island is dictated by Lord Summerisle, who was the one whose ancestors purchased it generations ago. Howie believes that Rowan was killed. She is believed to have been a sacrifice made by islanders to higher powers to secure a good crop of apples. This crop did not occur last year. Howie is trying to determine if Rowan was murdered/sacrificed. This includes searching for her body and if another sacrifice will take place on May Day. –Huggo
Genre: Horror
Director: Robin Hardy
Actors: Aubrey Morris, Britt Ekland, Christopher Lee, Diane Cilento, Edward Woodward, Ingrid Pitt, Lindsay Kemp
Country: United Kingdom
