
The Wicker Man
1973, Horror/Mystery and thriller, 1h 42m
54 Reviews 25,000+ RatingsWhat to know
critics consensus
This intelligent horror film is subtle in its thrills and chills, with an ending that is both shocking and truly memorable. Read critic reviews
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Movie Info
Cast & Crew
Sergeant Neil Howie

Lord Summerisle
Willow
Miss Rose
Alder MacGreagor
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Critic Reviews for The Wicker Man
All Critics (54) | Top Critics (13) | Fresh (48) | Rotten (6)
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The gothic ambiance and mood synonymous with the era's familiar tales of unholy menace is wholly absent. If there is evil here, it doesn't know it's evil.
October 29, 2008 | Rating: B- | Full Review… -
Anthony Shaffer penned the screenplay which, for sheer imagination and near-terror, has seldom been equalled.
October 7, 2008 | Full Review… -
Robin Hardy's 1973 cult horror film passed through several distributors, several versions, and several bankruptcies, picking up a powerful reputation along the way.
October 7, 2008 | Full Review… -
You can't help smiling at the audacity of it all and shivering a little at the feelbad ending.
August 24, 2007 | Rating: 3/5 -
The tension occasionally goes slack, but hardly anything surpasses that clifftop finale for freakish terror.
August 24, 2007 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review… -
Part folk musical, part occult chiller, and quite mad.
August 24, 2007 | Full Review…
Audience Reviews for The Wicker Man
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Jul 19, 2016Extremely audacious for the time it came out, this creepy cult classic should be remembered for the many intelligent questions it raises about religious intolerance and blind faith, while offering us also a memorable performance by Christopher Lee and a terrifying, unforgettable ending.Carlos M Super Reviewer
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Apr 06, 2015An unsettling horror film, The Wicker Man is set in a remote Scottish Isle where a police officer is tasked to find a missing girl. However, the bizarre behaviors of the inhabitants suggest something else is going on. The Wicker Man is quietly frightening with it's juxtaposition of cheerful songs and occult imagery, it's a rare British gem with a truly twisted ending.Sylvester K Super Reviewer
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May 13, 2014While Cinemafantastique termed The Wicker Man "the Citizen Kane" of horror films, I believe this is an excellent and fascinating film but that designation is pure hyperbole. This film is not so much a horror film as it is an unusual mystery about a clash of cultures that defy understanding, and within one region of one nation. It is thought-provoking and iconoclastic. The ending is jaw-droppingly memorable, both visually and as the climax of the plot. I liked the cast; Woodward is perfectly cast, even better than the well-known Christopher Lee. Lee is an iconic villain yet this role calls more for obscure or mysterious than frightening or sinister. One-time Rod Stewart girlfriend Britt Ekland's nudity is a bonus! There is pervasive nudity throughout the film, added as a shock to traditional British sensibilities. The only real deficiencies, for me, are the goofy, "hippy" elements of this 1973 film. It archaic, today, like a pagan cult Brady Bunch. The plot and characters still hold up today as shocking, only some imagery and music are dated. In summation, this is a brilliant story of manipulation, delusion, even psychosis- comparisons with The Stepford Wives and Rosemary's Baby are legitimate.Clintus M Super Reviewer
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Dec 29, 2012"The Wicker Man" could have benefited from better direction. I don't think that Robin Hardy fully realized that he had a potentially terrifying script in his hands, opting instead to take a more eccentric approach to the material. There are short musical numbers that almost come out of nowhere and they just don't fit, and moments that could have been tense and dramatic often come off as purposely silly. Overall, it's a hit-and-miss attempt that's memorable for its ending and because of how strange it is. Edward Woodward fits the role like a glove and he does well when the film takes an eerie turn in its latter stage, but "The Wicker Man" could have been much better if it just felt a little more serious.Stephen E Super Reviewer
The Wicker Man Quotes
Lord Summerisle: | It is time to keep your appointment with the Wicker Man |
Lord Summerisle: | It is time to keep your appointment with the Wicker Man. |
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