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Changed line(s) 83 (click to see context) from:
* DressingAsTheEnemy [[spoiler:It gets Howie killed.]]
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* DressingAsTheEnemy [[spoiler:It gets Howie killed.]]DressingAsTheEnemy
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i am going to personally fight everyone who didn't mark their spoilers >:c
Changed line(s) 81 (click to see context) from:
* DownerEnding: Howie's own faith ends up guaranteeing he will be the sacrifice— and in the end, it probably won't do the islanders any good anyway. And the little girl was in on it. Worse than that, he was vindictive and swearing death on his killers, who'd picked him for the sacrifice because, as a martyr, he'd be accepted into heaven by his religion... except, by his dying words of rage, he's arguably condemned himself to Hell.
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* DownerEnding: [[spoiler:DownerEnding: Howie's own faith ends up guaranteeing he will be the sacrifice— and in the end, it probably won't do the islanders any good anyway. And the little girl was in on it. Worse than that, he was vindictive and swearing death on his killers, who'd picked him for the sacrifice because, as a martyr, he'd be accepted into heaven by his religion... except, by his dying words of rage, he's arguably condemned himself to Hell.]]
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Changed line(s) 63 (click to see context) from:
* CueCard: In the climax, Edward Woodward used one for his lines. Looking at [[http://i2.wp.com/www.retronaut.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Wicker-Man-Cue-Cards.jpg?resize=500%2C739 this photo]], it seems Christopher Lee used it, as well. Woodward and the prop department opted to use the card, because the burning of the wicker man had to be shot when the weather was good, and he had yet to really learn Howie's lines for the scene. According to director Robin Hardy, the climax was shot on a day late in the year when the weather was getting progressively worse day-by-day.
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* CueCard: In the climax, Edward Woodward used one for his lines. Looking at [[http://i2.wp.com/www.retronaut.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Wicker-Man-Cue-Cards.jpg?resize=500%2C739 this photo]], it seems Christopher Lee used it, as well. Woodward and the prop department opted to use the card, because the [[spoiler:the burning of the wicker man man]] had to be shot when the weather was good, and he had yet to really learn Howie's lines for the scene. According to director Robin Hardy, the climax was shot on a day late in the year when the weather was getting progressively worse day-by-day.
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Changed line(s) 48 (click to see context) from:
-->'''Summerisle:''' Naturally, it's far too dangerous to jump through fire with your clothes on!
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-->'''Summerisle:''' Naturally, it's far too dangerous to jump through fire with your clothes on!on.
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** The power of belief, for both good and bad.
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jeezy creezy people, mark your massive spoilers
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* BatmanGambit: Sgt. Howie arrives at the island of Summerisle to solve the mystery of a missing child; the suspicious nature of the citizens convinces him that they're going to sacrifice the girl to appease the sun god. Unfortunately, TheChase to halt this event is actually a trick, causing him to unwittingly act out some archetypal ritual, and then burn him to death in the eponymous structure. Why? It turns out Howie was saving himself for marriage, too. Luckily, the girl is saved. Not that she was in any real danger.
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* BatmanGambit: Sgt. Howie arrives at the island of Summerisle to solve the mystery of a missing child; the suspicious nature of the citizens convinces him that they're going to sacrifice the girl to appease the sun god. Unfortunately, [[spoiler:Unfortunately, TheChase to halt this event is actually a trick, causing him to unwittingly act out some archetypal ritual, and then burn him to death in the eponymous structure. Why? It turns out Howie was saving himself for marriage, too. Luckily, the girl is saved. Not that she was in any real danger.]]
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Changed line(s) 19 (click to see context) from:
* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: When Howie asks [=McTaggart=] about crime on the mainland, he replies, "The usual - rape, sodomy and sacrilege.
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* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: When Howie asks [=McTaggart=] about crime on the mainland, he replies, "The usual - rape, sodomy and sacrilege."
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Changed line(s) 33 (click to see context) from:
** Pretty much a given, considering that he's just realized the locals are going to ''burn him alive and there's nothing he can do about it''.
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** Pretty much a given, considering that he's just realized the [[spoiler:the locals are going to ''burn him alive and there's nothing he can do about it''.]]
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Changed line(s) 32 (click to see context) from:
-->"Oh My God! Oh, Jesus Christ!"
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-->"Oh My God! Oh, Jesus Christ!"''Jesus Christ!''"
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Doesn't apply; Howie was away for a few days, and Mc Taggart was giving him mail that had been delivered while he was gone
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* ArtisticLicense: In the Director's Cut, Howie receives the anonymous letter on a Sunday. As in the United States, no mail delivery occurs on a Sunday in the UK.
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Britt Ekland's butt isn't a plot point.
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* {{Fanservice}}: Would you like to watch Britt Ekland [[http://vimeo.com/30010266 dance naked?]] Don't get too excited, since the [[spoiler: butt]] shots are a body double. To Ekland's disgust, people are forever asking her to autograph stills of that one particular scene. She has to patiently explain to them that it isn't actually her.
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* {{Fanservice}}: Would you like to watch Britt Ekland [[http://vimeo.com/30010266 dance naked?]] Don't get too excited, since the [[spoiler: butt]] butt shots are a body double. To Ekland's disgust, people are forever asking her to autograph stills of that one particular scene. She has to patiently explain to them that it isn't actually her.
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Changed line(s) 128 (click to see context) from:
* KarmaHoudini: It seems like it has this on the surface... Howie points out to Lord Sumerisle that if the crops fail again, the villagers will turn on him and make him the next sacrifice. Sumerisle's expression seems to imply a comeuppance is just around the corner.
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* KarmaHoudini: It seems like it has this on the surface... but Howie points out to Lord Sumerisle Summerisle that if [[spoiler:if the crops fail again, again after Howie's sacrifice, the villagers will turn on him Summerisle and make him ''him'' the next sacrifice. Sumerisle's sacrifice]]. Summerisle's expression seems to imply a comeuppance is just around the corner.
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Changed line(s) 19 (click to see context) from:
* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: When Howie asks [=McTaggart=] about cime on the mainland, he replies, "The usual - rape, sodomy and sacrilege.
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* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: When Howie asks [=McTaggart=] about cime crime on the mainland, he replies, "The usual - rape, sodomy and sacrilege.
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It is generally considered to be an influential CultClassic within the horror film genre. It was [[TheRemake remade]] in [[Film/TheWickerMan2006 2006]] to [[SoBadItsGood significantly less acclaim]].
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It is generally considered to be an influential CultClassic within the horror film genre.genre, specifically FolkHorror. It was [[TheRemake remade]] in [[Film/TheWickerMan2006 2006]] to [[SoBadItsGood significantly less acclaim]].
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** And the children's maypole song:
-->And from that feather was a bed, and on that bed there was a girl, and on that girl there was a man...
** Paul Giovanni wrote several original songs and [[https://celluloidwickerman.com/2014/06/12/the-music-of-folk-horror-part-4-the-wicker-mans-narrative-functionality/ adapted others from actual folk songs and poems]].
-->And from that feather was a bed, and on that bed there was a girl, and on that girl there was a man...
** Paul Giovanni wrote several original songs and [[https://celluloidwickerman.com/2014/06/12/the-music-of-folk-horror-part-4-the-wicker-mans-narrative-functionality/ adapted others from actual folk songs and poems]].
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* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: When Howie asks [=McTaggart=] about cime on the mainland, he replies, "The usual - rape, sodomy and sacrilege.
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Changed line(s) 24 (click to see context) from:
* BatmanGambit: Lord Summerisle's plan is very complex and relies on expertly manipulating Howie. [[spoiler:It works spectacularly well, earning Summerisle's status as both TheChessmaster and ManipulativeBastard.]]
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* BatmanGambit: Lord Summerisle's plan Sgt. Howie arrives at the island of Summerisle to solve the mystery of a missing child; the suspicious nature of the citizens convinces him that they're going to sacrifice the girl to appease the sun god. Unfortunately, TheChase to halt this event is very complex actually a trick, causing him to unwittingly act out some archetypal ritual, and relies on expertly manipulating Howie. [[spoiler:It works spectacularly well, earning Summerisle's status as both TheChessmaster and ManipulativeBastard.]]then burn him to death in the eponymous structure. Why? It turns out Howie was saving himself for marriage, too. Luckily, the girl is saved. Not that she was in any real danger.
* BigNo: This, along with a BigOMG, is Sgt. Howie's first reaction to seeing the titular edifice. The camera-work, buildup, and above all, Edward Woodward's believable delivery of the line removed any potential {{narm}}.
* CentralTheme: The need to believe that things will get better in the future.
* DownerEnding: Howie's own faith ends up guaranteeing he will be the sacrifice— and in the end, it probably won't do the islanders any good anyway. And the little girl was in on it. Worse than that, he was vindictive and swearing death on his killers, who'd picked him for the sacrifice because, as a martyr, he'd be accepted into heaven by his religion... except, by his dying words of rage, he's arguably condemned himself to Hell.
* FanDisservice: The Wall Slap scene is at once extremely sexy (naked Britt Ekland and naked Britt Ekland body double!) and extremely creepy.
Changed line(s) 106 (click to see context) from:
* TheHeroDies: [[spoiler:Howie himself at the end.]]
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* TheHeroDies: [[spoiler:Howie himself at the end.[[spoiler:The film famously ends with Sgt. Neil Howie being burned alive inside a wicker man as a pagan sacrifice.]]
* KarmaHoudini: It seems like it has this on the surface... Howie points out to Lord Sumerisle that if the crops fail again, the villagers will turn on him and make him the next sacrifice. Sumerisle's expression seems to imply a comeuppance is just around the corner.
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* TheNameSake: The titular effigy doesn't show up until the very end.
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* TheNameSake: TheNamesake: The titular effigy doesn't show up man of wicker in the title isn't shown or otherwise mentioned until the very end.end of the movie.
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%% * TheRadioDiesFirst
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* RealMenLoveJesus: Howie believes in life eternal, as promised by the Lord Jesus Christ, and he gets a chance to throw his faith in Lord Summerisle's face when he's about to be sacrificed. Even Summerisle compliments his faith, and tells him that he'll sit with the saints in Heaven after his death.
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* ReligiousHorror: A culture-clash of a devoutly religious Christian in a community of neo-pagans on a remote island.
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* ReligiousHorror: Nature-worshiping pagans live on a small island in northern Scotland. Sgt. Howie is a devout Protestant, and a bit of [[KnightTemplar an asshole]], but by the end, he's become very sympathetic.
** Interestingly, the ending was almost [[ExecutiveMeddling meddled]] to have [[spoiler:it start raining, putting out the wicker man]]. This was cut because it clashed with the whole point. Aculture-clash deleted scene showed that [[spoiler: the sacrifice ''worked'']] but it was deleted to leave the ambiguity in place.
** Also interestingly, it arguably falls under an intersection of the first category and the third; the historic Celtic pagans, which the islanders claim to be, are recorded--admittedly by [[UnreliableNarrator the Romans Caesar and Strabo]]--to [[spoiler:have used "wicker man" sacrifice in the event of adevoutly religious Christian bad harvest. It is certainly less disputed that the Celts practiced human sacrifice. There is a departure from what even the Romans record, though, in that there was no requirement that the sacrifice be a community virgin or a representative of neo-pagans on a remote island.authority; indeed, it seems that the peoples who practised this custom sacrificed criminals and delinquents whenever possible.]]
** Interestingly, the ending was almost [[ExecutiveMeddling meddled]] to have [[spoiler:it start raining, putting out the wicker man]]. This was cut because it clashed with the whole point. A
** Also interestingly, it arguably falls under an intersection of the first category and the third; the historic Celtic pagans, which the islanders claim to be, are recorded--admittedly by [[UnreliableNarrator the Romans Caesar and Strabo]]--to [[spoiler:have used "wicker man" sacrifice in the event of a
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* SleepingWithTheBoss: A real-life example occurred ''during filming'', when Anthony Shaffer walked into producer Peter Snell's hotel room one morning, and saw Snell in bed with Creator/IngridPitt, who was dating Rank Organisation head of exhibition George Pinches at the time, and would later marry and divorce him. Snell believes that this affair cost them a possible deal with Rank to distribute the film, which is why Pitt was cast in the first place.
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* SleepingWithTheBoss: A real-life example occurred ''during filming'', when Anthony Shaffer walked into producer Peter Snell's hotel room one morning, and saw Snell in bed with Creator/IngridPitt, who was dating Rank Organisation head of exhibition George Pinches at the time, and would later marry and divorce him. Snell believes that this affair cost them a possible deal with Rank to distribute the film, which is why Pitt was cast in the first place.SeparatedByTheWall: The famous Siren dance.
Changed line(s) 159 (click to see context) from:
* TheScream: "[[BigNo NO!]] For the love of God, THINK WHAT YOU'RE DOING!"
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* TheScream: "[[BigNo NO!]] For Played straight with the love line "In the name of God, THINK WHAT YOU'RE DOING!"DOING!" Cut to the sunset, with "doing" echoing. And guess what? It's really creepy.
Changed line(s) 161 (click to see context) from:
* SexIsEvil: For Howie it is. [[spoiler:Ironically, if he ''did'' have a more liberal view of sex, he wouldn't have been murdered.]]
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* SexIsEvil: For PlayedStraight, in that the straight-laced Christian Howie it is. [[spoiler:Ironically, if is shocked at the depraved sex and immorality surrounding him on the island, believing that they were evil heathens—and he ''did'' was proven right.
** In some cruel irony, his chastity was part of the reason why Lord Summerisle chose him to be sacrificed. If he hadn't resisted Willow's seductions earlier in the film, he might havea more liberal view escaped his fate.
* SexIsEvilAndIAmHorny: One ofsex, he wouldn't the main themes, if not the main theme is the conflict between the stuck-up, virginal, devoutly religious Sgt. Howie and the sexually liberal, promiscuous pagan islanders. The filmmakers have been murdered.]] stated that Howie's decision of whether or not to have sex dictates what happens to him in the end.
** In some cruel irony, his chastity was part of the reason why Lord Summerisle chose him to be sacrificed. If he hadn't resisted Willow's seductions earlier in the film, he might have
* SexIsEvilAndIAmHorny: One of
* SleepingWithTheBoss: A real-life example occurred ''during filming'', when Anthony Shaffer walked into producer Peter Snell's hotel room one morning, and saw Snell in bed with Creator/IngridPitt, who was dating Rank Organisation head of exhibition George Pinches at the time, and would later marry and divorce him. Snell believes that this affair cost them a possible deal with Rank to distribute the film, which is why Pitt was cast in the first place.
Changed line(s) 170 (click to see context) from:
* StealthPun: Since the rest of the score is acoustic folk, "Cave Chase", an electric rock and roll instrumental that plays as Howie is chasing villagers through a cave near the end of the film, stands out. According to score composer/arranger Paul Giovanni, this was meant as a pun on "rock music".
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* StealthPun: Since the rest of the score is acoustic folk, "Cave Chase", an electric rock and roll instrumental that plays as Howie is chasing fleeing the villagers through a cave near the end of the film, stands out. According to score composer/arranger Paul Giovanni, this was meant as a pun on "rock music".
* StrawHypocrite: Lord Summerisle calmly explains to Sgt. Howie that Summerisle's pagan religion, which he leads and enforces, is only a century or so old, invented by the present Lord's grandfather to keep the residents in line and prevent them from blaming their liege for failed harvests. Lord Summerisle doesn't believe a word of it, but he encourages the islanders to be suspicious of Howie, a Christian, as a dangerous, infidel outsider.
* SurvivalMantra: The 23rd psalm is used at an appropriate moment.
* SurvivalMantra: The 23rd psalm is used at an appropriate moment.
* TargetedHumanSacrifice: Sgt. Howie is slated to be the sacrifice because he's still a virgin, because he's acting as a representative of the Crown, and maybe other reasons.
* TownWithADarkSecret: The dark secret is a pagan cult that practices HumanSacrifice, at least according to Sgt. Howie. It turns out they weren't, as last year was the first year they even sacrificed an animal and luring a Fool (in this case, a bigoted, ignorant cop) to be sacrificed is a first for the islanders, who are desperate to cure a blight on their crops via magic.
* TragicHero: Howie, whose honor and morals make him a perfect sacrifice.
* TragicMistake: Howie seals his fate by ''not'' having sex with Willow.
* TragicHero: Howie, whose honor and morals make him a perfect sacrifice.
* TragicMistake: Howie seals his fate by ''not'' having sex with Willow.
Changed line(s) 184 (click to see context) from:
* UnexpectedVirgin: Howie. It actually becomes a plot point.
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* UnexpectedVirgin: Howie. It actually becomes Howie's religiously inspired chastity is a plot point.major part of the plot. Of course, seeing as this gets him a VirginSacrifice at the end of the film, this could go either way.
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* VirginSacrifice: [[spoiler:Howie's virginity is one of the reasons why he's selected to be manipulated into being sacrificed for the crops.]]
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* VirginSacrifice: [[spoiler:Howie's virginity is one of Howie's unusual (for his time) beliefs about maintaining his purity until marriage, match the reasons why he's selected to be manipulated into being sacrificed for unusual twist that he (the enemy) is considered as the crops.]]perfect sacrifice by the pagan villagers. Given an extra twist because it wasn't just the fact that he was a virgin that made him so perfect, but the fact that he would willingly refuse sex from an objectively beautiful woman out of virtue. That kind of purity can be hard to find, and Lord Summerisle made it clear that while a child sacrifice was valued, it was nothing compared to "the right kind of adult."
* WhereDoYouThinkYouAre: "We're a deeply religious people. We don't commit murder here."
** "No apples? On Summerisle?"
** "No apples? On Summerisle?"
Changed line(s) 197 (click to see context) from:
-->'''Sgt. Howie:''' It means that you, sir, are a pagan!
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-->'''Sgt. Howie:''' It means that you, sir, are He brought you up to be a pagan!
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* YoureInsane: "You're all raving mad!"
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* YoureInsane: "You're YoureInsane:
-->'''May Morrison''': Can I do anything for you, Sergeant?
-->'''Sgt. Neil Howie''': No, I doubt it, seeing as you're allraving mad!" ''raving'' mad!
-->'''May Morrison''': Can I do anything for you, Sergeant?
-->'''Sgt. Neil Howie''': No, I doubt it, seeing as you're all
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* FacingTheBulletsOneLiner: Sgt. Howie is being dragged to be burnt alive as a human sacrifice, but defiantly affirms his faith in the face of the murderous villagers. Lord Summerisle immediately turns this around and reminds him it's that very piety that makes him such an ideal candidate for sacrifice - and that the only reward for his faithfulness is to die a martyr's death. Howie, shaken to the core, opts to pray aloud: "Dear God, I humbly entreat thee for the soul of this thy servant, Neil Howie, who will today depart from this world. Do not deliver me into the enemy's hands or put me out of mind forever. Let me not undergo the real pains of hell, dear God, because I die unshriven. And establish me in that bliss which knows no ending, O Christ, Our Lord..."
Changed line(s) 90 (click to see context) from:
* FilkSong: Music/BruceDickinson[='=]s "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGRi3RQ-_gU Wicker Man]]" ([[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZkAQoa1plM&ob=av2e the one]] he co-wrote after rejoining Music/IronMaiden - quoted in the caption above - [[WordSaladLyrics less so]])
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* FilkSong: Music/BruceDickinson[='=]s "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGRi3RQ-_gU Wicker Man]]" ([[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZkAQoa1plM&ob=av2e the one]] he co-wrote after rejoining Music/IronMaiden - quoted in the caption above - [[WordSaladLyrics less so]])so]]).
* FinalSpeech: Sgt. Howie gives an absolutely badass one, predicting divine punishment for the villagers, singing a bit of the 23rd Psalm, and finally reciting the last words of Walter Raleigh. Oddly enough, it's justified - he's being burned alive in the Wicker Man, so until the fire gets to him he has ''plenty'' of time to talk.
* FinalSpeech: Sgt. Howie gives an absolutely badass one, predicting divine punishment for the villagers, singing a bit of the 23rd Psalm, and finally reciting the last words of Walter Raleigh. Oddly enough, it's justified - he's being burned alive in the Wicker Man, so until the fire gets to him he has ''plenty'' of time to talk.
* GodBeforeDogma: When Howie and [=McTaggart=] see graffiti spelling out "Jesus Saves," [=McTaggart=] comments approvingly of it while Howie demands it be wiped clean.
* GodGuise: Lord Summerisle describes how his grandfather introduced new crops and farming methods, as well as his Pagan faith. When the crops were incredibly successful, he had no difficulty convincing the locals that there was a connection between their survival and the appeasal of Celtic deities.
* GodGuise: Lord Summerisle describes how his grandfather introduced new crops and farming methods, as well as his Pagan faith. When the crops were incredibly successful, he had no difficulty convincing the locals that there was a connection between their survival and the appeasal of Celtic deities.
* HillbillyHorrors: A pagan cult believes that the only way to ensure that its next apple harvests succeeds is through a human sacrifice.
* IWantSong: Quite a few of the songs are combinations of this and the VillainSong, and all of them are about sex in some way or another. Interestingly, Howie's only song is definitely not an example, because it's a musical version of the 23rd Psalm, and starts with "The Lord is my shepherd \ I shall not want".
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* IntercourseWithYou: ''[[{{Fanservice}} Heyyy, hoooo, who is there?...]]''
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* IntercourseWithYou: IncorruptiblePurePureness: ''[[{{Fanservice}} Heyyy, hoooo, who is there?...]]''
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* IWantSong: Most of the songs, except the hero's song, which is the 23rd Psalm, starting "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want."
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* IWantSong: Most of ItsALongStory: "Do sit down, Sgt. Howie. Shocks are much better absorbed with the songs, except the hero's song, which is the 23rd Psalm, starting "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want."knees bent".
* LastNoteNightmare: The soundtrack is a great find as it includes all the Celtic folk songs featured in the movie, including the classic round "Sumer Is Icumen In," which is sung by the townsfolk at the film's climax. It takes a turn for the horror however when that track on the album ends with Sgt. Howie screaming, "Oh, God! Oh, Jesus Christ!" in absolute terror as he sees the wicker man.
* ManOnFire: The clue is in the title.
* MatingDance: Willow's naked dance. The man she's dancing for is in the next room and can't see her, but that's hardly necessary to get his attention.
* ManOnFire: The clue is in the title.
* MatingDance: Willow's naked dance. The man she's dancing for is in the next room and can't see her, but that's hardly necessary to get his attention.
Changed line(s) 129 (click to see context) from:
* NudeNatureDance: Towards the middle, Howie sees a group of young pregnant women dancing around a fire, nude. See ComicallyMissingThePoint for the reaction.
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* NudeNatureDance: Towards the middle, Howie sees a group of young pregnant women dancing around a fire, nude. See ComicallyMissingThePoint for
-->'''Howie''': But they are... are naked!
-->'''Summerisle''': Why, naturally. It is far too dangerous to jump through thereaction.fire with your clothes on!
* OffscreenKarma: Though it happens after the film's end, it is made abundantly clear that the islanders' civilisation is based on a lie and that they are doomed. After all, the sacrifice was a sign of despair which will become more than a sign when the next year of crop failure Lord Summerisle will be the only appropriate sacrifice.
-->'''Howie''': But they are... are naked!
-->'''Summerisle''': Why, naturally. It is far too dangerous to jump through the
* OffscreenKarma: Though it happens after the film's end, it is made abundantly clear that the islanders' civilisation is based on a lie and that they are doomed. After all, the sacrifice was a sign of despair which will become more than a sign when the next year of crop failure Lord Summerisle will be the only appropriate sacrifice.
Changed line(s) 134,136 (click to see context) from:
* PeekABooCorpse:
** But it's in a coffin.
** Subverted in a prank a girl plays on Howie while he searches for Rowan.
** But it's in a coffin.
** Subverted in a prank a girl plays on Howie while he searches for Rowan.
to:
* PeekABooCorpse:
** ButPeekABooCorpse: One of these very briefly (ahem) pops up when Sgt. Howie is searching the mortuary. Then again, what do you expect to find in a coffin? Of far more interest is the fact that it's in a coffin.
** Subverted in a prank a girl plays on Howie while he searches for Rowan.only got one hand.
** But
** Subverted in a prank a girl plays on Howie while he searches for Rowan.
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* ReCut: The original theatrical version, which is the most well-known cut, is 87 minutes in length. A 99-minute cut was sent to Creator/RogerCorman, who suggested that 13 minutes be cut in order to sell well in the United States. A few years later, Robin Hardy, now living in the US, decided to seek out a copy of the film. He obtained a duplicate of Corman's copy, and cut out the mainland scenes, while restoring some of the longer cut scenes. This version timed out to 95 minutes, and was released in the US in the fall of 1977. It was later released on Blu-Ray and DVD in October 2013 as The Final Cut. In 1988, the 99-minute version ended up being released on VHS in America, distributed by Media Home Entertainment, and later Magnum Entertainment. Hilariously, the front of the Magnum release has pictures of the film's two stars, Edward Woodward and Christopher Lee, that were obviously taken in the 1980s; in fact, the picture of Woodward is a publicity still from ''Series/TheEqualizer'' (heck, next to the picture of Woodward, it reads, "Starring Edward Woodward (''The Equalizer''))". In 2001, an NTSC one-inch videotape copy transferred from Corman's copy was released on VHS and DVD in America and Britain by Anchor Bay, thanks to a campaign from StudioCanal, the film's worldwide owners, to try and find the full cut. Christopher Lee went to his grave believing that there exists an even-longer cut of the film, longer than the one Corman was sent; considering the amount of mainland scenes that were filmed but never seen in any cut, he's probably right. Oddly enough, there are rumors that a 17-minute version for triple and quadruple bills exists, in which Sergeant Howie is led straight to the Wicker Man; however, nothing really substantial has emerged about this one.
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* BasedOnAGreatBigLie: The opening credits thank Lord Summerisle and the people of his island for their cooperation in depicting their religion. There was no such lord, no such island, and no Scottish community practicing any such religion in the twentieth century.
* {{Bathos}}: Lord Summerisle and Miss Rose, both in evening dress and him at the Grand Piano, duet the absolutely filthy song "The Tinker of Rye" about a tinker fixing a woman's kettle.
* {{Bathos}}: Lord Summerisle and Miss Rose, both in evening dress and him at the Grand Piano, duet the absolutely filthy song "The Tinker of Rye" about a tinker fixing a woman's kettle.
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* BetterByADifferentName: Because of Creator/ChristopherLee, Ingrid Pitt and [[{{Fanservice}} Willow]] some like to name this "The greatest Film/HammerHorror that wasn't made by the Hammer Studio".
* BodyDouble: Britt Eklund had one intercut with her during "Willow's Song", thanks to ExecutiveMeddling. Eklund found it both annoying and amusing that people would have her autograph a photo of her ''double''.
* BodyDouble: Britt Eklund had one intercut with her during "Willow's Song", thanks to ExecutiveMeddling. Eklund found it both annoying and amusing that people would have her autograph a photo of her ''double''.
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* BenevolentBoss: Lord Summerisle is a rare villainous example.
* BetterByADifferentName: Because of Creator/ChristopherLee,Ingrid Pitt Creator/IngridPitt and [[{{Fanservice}} Willow]] some like to name this "The greatest Film/HammerHorror that wasn't made by the Hammer Studio".
* BigOMG: Sgt. Howie lets out a few of these in the final scene, as well as a well-delivered BigNO. Given Howie's strict Christianity, it seems likely that he is deliberately invoking God, rather than simply using the Big Man's name as an expletive.
-->"Oh My God! Oh, Jesus Christ!"
** Pretty much a given, considering that he's just realized the locals are going to ''burn him alive and there's nothing he can do about it''.
* BodyDouble: BrittEklund Ekland had one intercut with her during "Willow's Song", thanks to ExecutiveMeddling. Eklund found it both annoying and amusing that people would have her autograph a photo of her ''double''.
* BetterByADifferentName: Because of Creator/ChristopherLee,
* BigOMG: Sgt. Howie lets out a few of these in the final scene, as well as a well-delivered BigNO. Given Howie's strict Christianity, it seems likely that he is deliberately invoking God, rather than simply using the Big Man's name as an expletive.
-->"Oh My God! Oh, Jesus Christ!"
** Pretty much a given, considering that he's just realized the locals are going to ''burn him alive and there's nothing he can do about it''.
* BodyDouble: Britt
* CampbellCountry: The has an interesting way of giving its setting physical isolation - it's set on the (fictional) remote Scottish island of Summerisle.
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-->'''Howie:''' "I am a police officer. [[LampshadeHanging (laughs at it a bit)]] [[LampshadeHanging As you can see.]]"
to:
-->'''Howie:''' "I am a police officer. [[LampshadeHanging (laughs at it a bit)]] [[LampshadeHanging bit) As you can see.]]"
* ColdTurkeysAreEverywhere: Sgt. Howie is engaged and waiting until marriage to have sex. Once he gets to Summerisle, sex is everywhere he looks.
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* CrapsaccharineWorld: Summerisle
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* CorruptionOfAMinor: The deeply Christian Sgt Howie accuses the pagan schoolteacher of "corruption of the young" when she teaches her class about the dominants of phallic symbolism in the Celtic religion.
* CrapsaccharineWorld:SummerisleSummerisle may count as this, as it is not as peaceful and joyous as it seems to be.
* CrapsaccharineWorld:
* CultColony: There is the pagan cult that lives on the remote Scottish island of Summerisle.
* DarkReprise: [[spoiler:Howie's reprise of the 23rd Psalm]] as counterpoint to the townsfolk's "Sumer is Icumen In" at the film's climax.
* DarkReprise: [[spoiler:Howie's reprise of the 23rd Psalm]] as counterpoint to the townsfolk's "Sumer is Icumen In" at the film's climax.
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* DarkReprise: [[spoiler:Howie's reprise of the 23rd Psalm]] as counterpoint to the townsfolk's "Sumer is Icumen In" at the film's climax.
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* DeliberateValuesDissonance: The lion's share of the movie's creepiness comprises of this.
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* DeliberateValuesDissonance: The lion's share film relies heavily on this, first for humor, as Howie's staunch Christianity means he is horrified and baffled by the staunch Paganism of the movie's creepiness comprises of this. village inhabitants and what this leads them to do — who are equally horrified and baffled by his religious beliefs and behaviors — and then for horror, when the Paganistic beliefs incite the villages to capture him and burn him to death in a wicker man as a HumanSacrifice so that their crops will grow.
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* ExtremelyShortTimespan: Takes place over about 48 hours.
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* ExtremelyShortTimespan: Takes place over about 48 hours.The film begins, depending on which cut you watch, on the evening of April the 28th or the morning of April the 29th, and ends at sunset on May the 1st.
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* SameLanguageDub: Britt Ekland was dubbed by Annie Ross.
* SleepingWithTheBoss: A real-life example occurred ''during filming'', when Anthony Shaffer walked into producer Peter Snell's hotel room one morning, and saw Snell in bed with Creator/IngridPitt, who was dating Rank Organisation head of exhibition George Pinches at the time, and would later marry and divorce him. Snell believes that this affair cost them a possible deal with Rank to distribute the film, which is why Pitt was cast in the first place.
* SleepingWithTheBoss: A real-life example occurred ''during filming'', when Anthony Shaffer walked into producer Peter Snell's hotel room one morning, and saw Snell in bed with Creator/IngridPitt, who was dating Rank Organisation head of exhibition George Pinches at the time, and would later marry and divorce him. Snell believes that this affair cost them a possible deal with Rank to distribute the film, which is why Pitt was cast in the first place.
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%% * ShownTheirWork
* SleepingWithTheBoss: A real-life example occurred ''during filming'', when Anthony Shaffer walked into producer Peter Snell's hotel room one morning, and saw Snell in bed with Ingrid Pitt. Pitt was dating Rank Organisation head of exhibition George Pinches at the time, and would later marry and divorce him. Snell believes that this affair cost them a possible deal with Rank to distribute the film, which is why Pitt was cast in the first place.
* SleepingWithTheBoss: A real-life example occurred ''during filming'', when Anthony Shaffer walked into producer Peter Snell's hotel room one morning, and saw Snell in bed with Ingrid Pitt. Pitt was dating Rank Organisation head of exhibition George Pinches at the time, and would later marry and divorce him. Snell believes that this affair cost them a possible deal with Rank to distribute the film, which is why Pitt was cast in the first place.
to:
* SleepingWithTheBoss: A real-life example occurred ''during filming'', when Anthony Shaffer walked into producer Peter Snell's hotel room one morning, and saw Snell in bed with Ingrid Pitt. Pitt was dating Rank Organisation head of exhibition George Pinches at
** The song sung by the
** Apples feature prominently in many Celtic traditions. 'Avalan' from Arthurian mythology is thought to be derived from apples.
** Celtic pagans did practice human sacrifice, though many have questioned whether wicker men actually existed or it was just Roman propaganda. The film is inspired by an engraving from the 1600s.
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* SexIsEvil: Well, on Summerisle it is.
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* SexIsEvil: Well, on Summerisle For Howie it is. [[spoiler:Ironically, if he ''did'' have a more liberal view of sex, he wouldn't have been murdered.]]
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** It's worth noting that it's ''heavily'' implied that [[spoiler:the villagers sabotaged it.]]
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* TownWithADarkSecret: The islanders certainly aren't afraid to hide their pagan beliefs... [[spoiler:but they keep quiet on the whole HumanSacrifice bit.]]
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* TownWithADarkSecret: The islanders certainly aren't afraid to hide show their pagan beliefs... [[spoiler:but they keep quiet on the whole HumanSacrifice bit.]]
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It is generally considered to be an influential CultClassic within the horror film genre. It was [[{{Remake}} remade]] in [[Film/TheWickerMan2006 2006]] to significantly less acclaim.
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It is generally considered to be an influential CultClassic within the horror film genre. It was [[{{Remake}} [[TheRemake remade]] in [[Film/TheWickerMan2006 2006]] to [[SoBadItsGood significantly less acclaim.
acclaim]].
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* IntimateOpenShirt: It's no coincidence that Howie's pyjamas are like this during Willow's attempted seduction via song.
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%% * MaybeMagicMaybeMundane
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Changed line(s) 120 (click to see context) from:
** Christopher Lee has a nicely subtle one when [[spoiler:Howie points out that if his own death doesn't help the next harvest, the villagers will likely conclude that only Summerisle himself will be a large enough sacrifice to satisfy their gods]].
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** Christopher Lee Lord Summerisle has a nicely subtle one when [[spoiler:Howie points out that if his own death doesn't help the next harvest, the villagers will likely conclude that only Summerisle himself will be a large enough sacrifice to satisfy their gods]].
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* ShamefulStrip: [[spoiler: Before he is executed, Howie gets stripped out of his clothes and put in a white tunic]].
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* VirginPower: As a staunch Christian, Howie is a firm opponent of sex before marriage and displays strength of will by keeping to his beliefs. [[spoiler: In spite of being quite opposed to Howie's belief, the pagan residents of Summerisle also think think his purity gives him certain spiritual qualities.]]
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* VirginPower: As a staunch Christian, Howie is a firm opponent of sex before marriage and displays strength of will by keeping to his beliefs. [[spoiler: In spite of being quite opposed to Howie's belief, the pagan residents of Summerisle also think think that his purity gives him certain spiritual qualities.]]
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* BasedOnAGreatBigLie: The opening credits thank Lord Summerisle and the people of his island for cooperating in the depiction of their religion. In reality, there was no Lord Summerisle, no Summerisle, and no community of Scots practicing the religion depicted in the movie.
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* TheUglyGuysHotDaughter: Willow [=MacGregor=].
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[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/wicker_man_1973.jpg]]
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It is generally considered to be an influential CultClassic within the horror film genre. It was [[{{Remake}} remade]] in 2006 to significantly less acclaim.
In 2011, Hardy released ''The Wicker Tree'', a companion piece of sorts based on his novel 'Cowboys for Christ', with Lee appearing in a cameo (but not, as some have reported, as Lord Summerisle). Hardy was attempting to film a third and final installment in a ''Wicker Man'' trilogy - ''The Wrath of the Gods''. A massive flop of an Indiegogo campaign in Summer 2015 (raising only $8,318 of a goal of ''$210,000'') didn't help matters, and Hardy's death on July 1, 2016 may have completely ended hopes of completing the trilogy.
In 2011, Hardy released ''The Wicker Tree'', a companion piece of sorts based on his novel 'Cowboys for Christ', with Lee appearing in a cameo (but not, as some have reported, as Lord Summerisle). Hardy was attempting to film a third and final installment in a ''Wicker Man'' trilogy - ''The Wrath of the Gods''. A massive flop of an Indiegogo campaign in Summer 2015 (raising only $8,318 of a goal of ''$210,000'') didn't help matters, and Hardy's death on July 1, 2016 may have completely ended hopes of completing the trilogy.
to:
It is generally considered to be an influential CultClassic within the horror film genre. It was [[{{Remake}} remade]] in 2006 [[Film/TheWickerMan2006 2006]] to significantly less acclaim.
In 2011, Hardy released ''The Wicker Tree'', a companion piece of sorts based on his novel'Cowboys ''Cowboys for Christ', Christ'', with Lee appearing in a cameo (but not, as some have reported, as Lord Summerisle). Hardy was attempting to film a third and final installment in a ''Wicker Man'' trilogy - ''The Wrath of the Gods''. A massive flop of an Indiegogo campaign in Summer 2015 (raising only $8,318 of a goal of ''$210,000'') didn't help matters, and Hardy's death on July 1, 2016 may have completely ended hopes of completing the trilogy.
In 2011, Hardy released ''The Wicker Tree'', a companion piece of sorts based on his novel
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splitting the pages
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Robin Hardy's seminal suspense/horror/folk musical film, with Creator/ChristopherLee as Lord Summerisle and Creator/EdwardWoodward as Sergeant Howie.
It is generally considered to be an influential CultClassic within the horror film genre. It was [[{{Remake}} remade]] in 2006 to significantly less acclaim.
In 2011, Hardy released ''The Wicker Tree'', a companion piece of sorts based on his novel 'Cowboys for Christ', with Lee appearing in a cameo (but not, as some have reported, as Lord Summerisle). Hardy was attempting to film a third and final installment in a ''Wicker Man'' trilogy - ''The Wrath of the Gods''. A massive flop of an Indiegogo campaign in Summer 2015 (raising only $8,318 of a goal of ''$210,000'') didn't help matters, and Hardy's death on July 1, 2016 may have completely ended hopes of completing the trilogy.
----
!!This film provides examples of:
* AffablyEvil: Lord Summerisle. Possibly subverted. It's never clear whether Summerisle actually believes the religion of his island, or is just playing along to keep his subjects in line. If the former, he may genuinely believe the sacrifice is necessary for the harvest. And he tries to soothe his intended sacrifice:
-->[[spoiler: '''Howie:''' I am a Christian. And as a Christian I hope for resurrection. And even as if you kill me now, It is I who will live again, not your damned apples! [The Villagers prepare him for sacrifice] No matter what you do, you can't change the fact that I believe in Life Eternal, as promised to us by our Lord Jesus Christ. '''[[RealMenLoveJesus I BELIEVE IN THE LIFE ETERNAL AS PROMISED BY OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST!]]''']]
-->[[spoiler: '''Lord Summerisle:''' That is good. For believing what you do, we confer on you a rare gift these days: A martyr's death. You will not only have life eternal, but you will sit with the saints among the elect. Come, it is time to keep your appointment with [[TitleDrop the Wicker Man]].]]
* AntiHero: A very interesting take on it, too. It seems Howie is an upstanding, responsible policeman trying to find a young girl at least at first, but as the film goes on, he begins to show an uglier side; that of a preachy, Christian religious bigot and {{Jerkass}} who dislikes the islanders for being pagans. [[BlackAndGrayMorality That is]], murderous, perverted, two-faced pagans [[spoiler:who wind up killing him]].
* AntiVillain: The islanders genuinely believe their acts are necessary to save the next harvest.
* {{Arcadia}}: Summerisle sees itself as this (with a neopagan twist), but even before we learn the [[TownWithADarkSecret Dark Secret]], we know something's definitely ''off'' about the place.
* AristocratsAreEvil: Lord Summerisle again.
* ArousedByTheirVoice: Howie can only hear Willow's song, not see her, but he's still tempted. [[EnthrallingSiren Magic may be involved.]]
* ArtisticLicense: In the Director's Cut, Howie receives the anonymous letter on a Sunday. As in the United States, no mail delivery occurs on a Sunday in the UK.
* TheBadGuyWins: Though [[spoiler:thanks to Howie's final speech, only till the apple harvest fails again. If you look at it that way (see TakingYouWithMe further down), you could say that Howie was the real winner.]] It could also be argued that [[spoiler:from Howie's perspective [[DoomedMoralVictor he won]], since Christianity teaches that a principled defeat counts as a victory.]]
* BadLiar: It is really, ''really'' obvious that the villagers of Summerisle are concealing information. Maybe they're fundamentally honest people who aren't used to this sort of thing, or maybe it's all part of the plan, intended to make Howie suspicious and keep him investigating. Probably a mixture of both.
* BasedOnAGreatBigLie: The opening credits thank Lord Summerisle and the people of his island for cooperating in the depiction of their religion. In reality, there was no Lord Summerisle, no Summerisle, and no community of Scots practicing the religion depicted in the movie.
* BatmanGambit: Lord Summerisle's plan is very complex and relies on expertly manipulating Howie. [[spoiler:It works spectacularly well, earning Summerisle's status as both TheChessmaster and ManipulativeBastard.]]
* BawdySong: The customers at a pub engage in a lusty rendition of "The Landlord's Daughter", to the annoyance of the straight-laced protagonist and the amusement of Willow, the ReallyGetsAround daughter of the pub's landlord. As Creator/ChristopherLee said in the DVDCommentary, it's a good song for when you've got a pint in your hand.
** "Gently Johnny" may just be the sweetest, gentlest, most romantic bawdy song you've ever heard. It is also based on a very old song, but is much more explicit than the version commonly sung.
** And then there's Christopher Lee and Diane Cilento dueting ''The Tinker of Rye'', an absolutely filthy song about a tinker [[UnusualEuphemism fixing a woman's kettle]]. The fact that they are both in full evening dress, and Lee is playing the melody for the song on a grand piano [[{{Bathos}} just add to the hilarity]].
* BetterByADifferentName: Because of Creator/ChristopherLee, Ingrid Pitt and [[{{Fanservice}} Willow]] some like to name this "The greatest Film/HammerHorror that wasn't made by the Hammer Studio".
* BodyDouble: Britt Eklund had one intercut with her during "Willow's Song", thanks to ExecutiveMeddling. Eklund found it both annoying and amusing that people would have her autograph a photo of her ''double''.
* BookEnds: The Final Cut begins and ends with an religious ceremony (and Howie [[spoiler:sings "The Lord's My Shepherd" at both of them]]).
* ButIWouldReallyEnjoyIt: Howie doesn't believe in sex before marriage, and is therefore still a virgin. Willow does her best to seduce him [[spoiler: and fails, though Howie is literally trembling with desire]].
* CampStraight: The innkeeper, played by gay mime artist Lindsay Kemp.
* CaptainObvious: During the scene where Howie is in a classroom:
-->'''Howie:''' "I am a police officer. [[LampshadeHanging (laughs at it a bit)]] [[LampshadeHanging As you can see.]]"
* CelibateHero: Howie, as a conservative Christian and bachelor who doesn't believe in sex outside marriage. He's sorely tempted during the film however.
* CreepyChild: All of them, really, but Daisy Pringle in particular.
* ComicallyMissingThePoint: Lord Summerisle.
-->'''Howie:''' But they are... [[FelonyMisdemeanor are naked]]!
-->'''Summerisle:''' Naturally, it's far too dangerous to jump through fire with your clothes on!
* CorruptHick: Almost everyone on Summerisle.
* CorruptChurch: "Since it is no longer used for Christian worship, whether it is still a church is debatable."
* CrapsaccharineWorld: Summerisle
* CreatorCameo:
** Robin Hardy plays the preacher in the scene in the church in the film's opening minutes. This is one of the major parts of the film cut from the theatrical release, but is available on the uncut (full 102-minute film) and middle (typically, 92 to 95 minutes) versions.
** Anthony Shaffer is one of the villagers who surround Howie on the clifftop at the beginning of the film's climax.
** The film's music composer, New Yorker Paul Giovanni, and musical director, Gary Carpenter, make several appearances throughout the film, playing instruments along with the other members of the band formed specifically for this movie, Magnet. Carpenter is the one playing the lyre during the climax, when Howie is stripped and anointed by Willow and the Librarian. Carpenter says during filming one day, Giovanni suggested the band try marijuana. The band were so high, they couldn't play their instruments.
* CreditsGag: The director's and theatrical cuts open with a title card reading the following:
-->"The Producer [Peter Snell] would like to thank The Lord Summerisle and the people of his island off the west coast of Scotland for this privileged insight into their religious practices and for their generous co-operation [''sic''] in the making of this film."
** This is despite the fact that the film is never actually ''presented'' as a mockumentary, though it contains a lot of hand-held camera shots.
** The "middle" version (released in 2013 as ''The Wicker Man: The Final Cut'') opens with a time card reading, "Sunday - The 29th of April 1973". This leads into the church scene on the mainland.
* CreepyCrossdresser: Lord Summerisle dresses as a woman for the May Day parade.
* CruelTwistEnding: An incredibly famous one; see also ItWasHisSled.
* CueCard: In the climax, Edward Woodward used one for his lines. Looking at [[http://i2.wp.com/www.retronaut.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Wicker-Man-Cue-Cards.jpg?resize=500%2C739 this photo]], it seems Christopher Lee used it, as well. Woodward and the prop department opted to use the card, because the burning of the wicker man had to be shot when the weather was good, and he had yet to really learn Howie's lines for the scene. According to director Robin Hardy, the climax was shot on a day late in the year when the weather was getting progressively worse day-by-day.
* {{Cult}}: The pagan sect on the island was started almost by accident by Lord Summerisle's grandfather, and then continued by his children.
* DaylightHorror: Many of the events in the movie take place during the day, with the climax happening at dusk. It lets the audience admire the SceneryPorn and also makes the bizarre behavior of the townspeople even more unsettling.
* DarkReprise: [[spoiler:Howie's reprise of the 23rd Psalm]] as counterpoint to the townsfolk's "Sumer is Icumen In" at the film's climax.
* DeadpanSnarker: Lord Summerisle quite often.
* DeathBySex: {{Inverted}}. [[spoiler: The pious virgin is killed, and losing his virginity just might have made him an unacceptable sacrifice.]]
* DeliberateValuesDissonance: The lion's share of the movie's creepiness comprises of this.
* DistinctionWithoutADifference: [[spoiler:"Now you can wrap it up any way you like, but you are about to commit ''murder.''"]]
* DoomedMoralVictor: [[spoiler:Howie of course.]]
* DoubleEntendre:
** The song Willow sings to seduce Howie is almost nothing but these.
-->''How a maid can milk a bull!.... And every stroke a bucket full."[[note]]Taken from the 11th century drinking song "Martin Said To His Man".[[/note]]
** Likewise "The Landlord's Daughter" song.
-->And, when her name is mentioned...The parts of every gentleman...[[SomethingElseAlsoRises Do stand up at attention.]]
%% * TheDragon: Oak
* DressingAsTheEnemy [[spoiler:It gets Howie killed.]]
* DyingCurse: [[spoiler:Howie throws an awesome one in Lord Summerisle's face at the end. See TakingYouWithMe below.]]
* DyingMomentOfAwesome: [[spoiler:The movie has Howie [[FaceDeathWithDignity die with dignity]]. The novelization by [[WordOfGod the director and writer of the original film]] actually has him die being a badass: actually freeing a flock of birds from the Wicker Man's arm ''as it's burning'', because he feels that, as long as he saves ''some'' sort of life, his police mission will have not been completely in vain.]]
* TheEndingChangesEverything The ending makes us see the islanders and their actions throughout the film in a new light.
%% * EnfantTerrible: [[spoiler:Rowan.]]
* EnthrallingSiren: A case of MaybeMagicMaybeMundane when Willow dances naked in the room next to Howie's, slapping the wall between them and singing to him. The staunchly Christian Howie is literally trembling with desire, but doesn't succumb.
* EveryoneLovesBlondes: Blonde hair certainly seems to be a requirement for a female leadership role on Summerisle.
* EvilSoundsDeep: Creator/ChristopherLee is in this movie.
* ExtremelyShortTimespan: Takes place over about 48 hours.
* FaceDeathWithDignity: [[spoiler:Rather [[LargeHam hammily]] averted at first by Howie ("OH MY GOOOOOD!") but once the fire is actually lit, played straight, as Howie accepts his death and prays for his soul to go to Heaven.]]
* FacelessGoons: "Take those masks off!"
* FakeShemp: Britt Ekland would only agree to shoot her nude scenes from the waist up. A body double was secretly used for the naked rear shots of Willow dancing. The scenes were filmed after she had left the set. After shooting was over, not only was Ekland furious to learn she had been doubled in some shots but that she was also a few weeks pregnant in that scene.
* {{Fanservice}}: Would you like to watch Britt Ekland [[http://vimeo.com/30010266 dance naked?]] Don't get too excited, since the [[spoiler: butt]] shots are a body double. To Ekland's disgust, people are forever asking her to autograph stills of that one particular scene. She has to patiently explain to them that it isn't actually her.
* AFeteWorseThanDeath: The climax occurs during the May Day celebrations.
* FilkSong: Music/BruceDickinson[='=]s "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGRi3RQ-_gU Wicker Man]]" ([[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZkAQoa1plM&ob=av2e the one]] he co-wrote after rejoining Music/IronMaiden - quoted in the caption above - [[WordSaladLyrics less so]])
* ForegoneConclusion: It's right there in the title.
** Even worse, the original poster for the British theatrical release showed the structure itself on the hill where it stood. This angered Shaffer and Hardy, the latter of whom compared it to a poster of ''{{Film/Psycho}}'' telling people "Norman Bates's mother is actually Norman himself."
** Or [[http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Wicker-Man-Edward-Woodward/dp/B00004CYAO this VHS artwork]], which may as well just say, [[spoiler: "Don't buy this film; you are looking the ending square in the face."]]
* ForTheEvulz:
** The only possible explanation for Daisy's beetle-abuse.
** That, or it's a symbol of Howie's fate: [[spoiler: the closer he gets to the answer of where Rowan is (i.e. the more he goes around the nail), the more entangled he is and the more difficult it is for him to escape.]]
* GambitRoulette: Summerisle's plan to [[spoiler: trick Sgt. Howie into coming to the island of his own free will and stay until May Day so they can sacrifice him.]] There's a lot of chance in this plan and a lot can go wrong.
* GenreBusting: Is it a crime movie? A horror movie? A mystery? A [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane fantasy]] movie? You can even argue that it's a Musical, if you're so inclined... or an excuse (albeit a good one) for Fanservice.
%% * GiantMook: Oak.
* GreyAndGrayMorality: Howie, whatever you think of his blustery self-righteousness, is genuinely trying to be a good police officer and save a child's life. The villagers [[spoiler: with the possible exception of Lord Summerisle]], however creeped out you may be by their practices, genuinely believe that they are saving their harvest.
* HandOfGlory: A Hand of Glory is placed next to Howie's bedside whilst he sleeps in an effort to make him sleep through the May Day celebrations. [[spoiler:Or at least that's what they ''want'' him to think.]]
* TheHeroDies: [[spoiler:Howie himself at the end.]]
* HolierThanThou: Sgt. Howie's behavior is, depending on interpretation, either that of a sanctimonious prude, that of a deeply honourable and upright officer motivated by his faith or both.
* HorrorDoesntSettleForSimpleTuesday: The movie is set at May Day. Although, according to the calendar in the chemist's, it ''is'' a Tuesday. Just not a normal Tuesday.
* HotLibrarian: Played by Hammer Horror regular Ingrid Pitt.
* HumanSacrifice: The islanders sincerely believe that [[spoiler:[[HumanResources Howie's death will revitalise their crops]]]].
* INeedAFreakingDrink: After failing to start his plane or find Rowan, Howie returns to the Green Man for a "big glass of whisky."
* {{Infodump}}: Lord Summerisle explaining to Howie how the island converted to paganism. But it's written in a way that reveals a lot about who he is, and introduces some important themes into the story.
* IntercourseWithYou: ''[[{{Fanservice}} Heyyy, hoooo, who is there?...]]''
* ItsAlwaysSpring: The film was shot in mainland Scotland from early October to late November 1972. Because it took place in the Spring of 1973, the film crew had to bring that season with them, gluing blossoms to trees, and, as Edward Woodward recalled, hauling in trees on trucks to be placed in certain scenes. The cold temperatures forced the actors to place ice cubes in their mouths during outdoor shooting so that their breath wouldn't be seen on camera. However, there are parts of the film where you can see Autumn leaves on the ground, so, the crew didn't completely hide the fact that it was Fall.
* IWantSong: Most of the songs, except the hero's song, which is the 23rd Psalm, starting "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want."
* {{Jerkass}}: Lord Summerisle, the island inhabitants, and some of Howie's co-workers from the original version's beginning and even Howie himself to an extent. Despite his {{affab|lyEvil}}ility, Lord Summerisle probably reigns supreme in this category; as the co-workers are minor, the inhabitants genuinely devout, and Howie at least genuinely wants to do the right thing. Summerisle has no real excuse.
* KidsAreCruel: "The little old beetle goes 'round and 'round. Always the same way, y'see, until it ends up right up tight to the nail. Poor old thing!"
%% * LargeHam: Creator/ChristopherLee.
%% * MaybeMagicMaybeMundane
* MyCarHatesMe: Howie's hydroplane breaks down, aborting his attempt to go back and get more officers.
* MyGirlIsASlut: When Alder [=MacGregor=] introduces his daughter Willow, the bar patrons break into a BawdySong about her promiscuity, which delights her and doesn't faze her father.
* TheNameSake: The titular effigy doesn't show up until the very end.
* NecessarilyEvil: Many of the villagers are visibly disturbed at the film's climax, but still participate for fear of [[spoiler:another crop failure]].
* NoAnimalsWereHarmed: Britt Ekland claimed that some of the animals inside the wicker man died when it was burned. Robin Hardy has repeatedly assured that the animals were in no danger; the wicker man was completely empty when it was set on fire, and fires were built in front of the animals to make sure they weren't hurt. He also said the animals were repeatedly placed in and taken out of the structure.
* NoNameGiven: Lord Summerisle is only addressed by his title, with no first name shown.
* NotEvenBotheringWithTheAccent:
** Despite the island being somewhere off the coast of Scotland, Lord Summerisle speaks with Creator/ChristopherLee's normal Received Pronunciation accent. Although being a member of the aristocracy, he was probably privately educated and had elocution lessons.
** There's no particular reason why the Librarian speaks with a faint Polish accent, other than that she's played by Ingrid Pitt.
* NothingIsScarier: There are no real "scares" to speak of, no monsters...the town and its inhabitants are just really, really creepy.
* {{Novelization}}: In 1978, a book based on the film written by Robin Hardy and Anthony Shaffer[[note]]Well, primarily by Hardy; some of Shaffer's dialogue from the film was used word-for-word, so, he got credit.[[/note]] was published in the United States, right when the film was picking up steam in America. The readers get more detail of Howie and Mary's relationship, as well as the former's interest in bird-watching. In later editions, Scottish author Allan Brown, who has written many published works about the film, including a popular behind-the-scenes book, wrote a foreword, where he argued that Howie's arguments with Summerisle have more impact on paper than they did in the film, since casting Christopher Lee made viewers automatically assume he was the villain, as he had played so many in his career already.
* NudeNatureDance: Towards the middle, Howie sees a group of young pregnant women dancing around a fire, nude. See ComicallyMissingThePoint for the reaction.
* OhCrap:
** This is one of the few films where the main character can shout "Oh Jesus Christ!" and have it come across as a true, in-character OhCrap moment.
** Christopher Lee has a nicely subtle one when [[spoiler:Howie points out that if his own death doesn't help the next harvest, the villagers will likely conclude that only Summerisle himself will be a large enough sacrifice to satisfy their gods]].
* PathOfInspiration: {{Lampshaded}}. Lord Summerisle openly admits that his ancestor was a "Victorian freethinker" and propagated Celtic paganism among the villagers only to ensure social stability. It is strongly implied he also sees the local religion merely as a tool of control.
* PeekABooCorpse:
** But it's in a coffin.
** Subverted in a prank a girl plays on Howie while he searches for Rowan.
* PottyFailure: Edward Woodward and Robin Hardy were urinated on by a frightened goat sitting in the chamber above them in the wicker man while filming the climax.
* PragmaticAdaptation: Anthony Shaffer started out trying to adapt David Pinner's 1967 novel ''Ritual'' but decided it wouldn't work as a film. He took the basic concept (a puritanical police officer investigates a crime in a isolated community with a thriving pagan religion) and a few specific points (most notably a woman who attempts to seduce the cop) and built a new story around them. There's been some sniping between Pinner, Shaffer and Hardy over exactly how much ''The Wicker Man'' borrowed from ''Ritual''. [[http://strange-complex.livejournal.com/523368.html?s2id=16289359 This is a good summary]] of the relation between the two works.
* PunctuatedForEmphasis: "THEY. WILL. NOT. FAIL."
* QuirkyTown: Summerisle seems like one at first, but we quickly realize it's a TownWithADarkSecret.
%% * TheRadioDiesFirst
* RedHerring: At first Howie suspects Rowan has been murdered, but then discovers evidence that she has been kidnapped and is being held prisoner waiting to be sacrificed. [[spoiler:It's a trick for both the audience and Howie; the actual plan is to use Rowan as bait to lure Howie to be the sacrifice instead.]]
* ReligiousHorror: A culture-clash of a devoutly religious Christian in a community of neo-pagans on a remote island.
* RiddleForTheAges: Why ''was'' Willow trying to seduce Howie? [[spoiler:As a SecretTestOfCharacter to prove he was a perfect sacrifice? If Howie caved, it would ruin the sacrifice, so was she warning him? Maybe trying to ''save'' him by ruining him for the sacrifice? Was she just genuinely attracted to him? None of these questions are answered.]]
* SceneryPorn: There's plenty of gorgeous shots of the Scottish islands.
* TheScream: "[[BigNo NO!]] For the love of God, THINK WHAT YOU'RE DOING!"
* SecretTestOfCharacter: [[spoiler:Much of the eccentric behaviour of the islanders as directed by Lord Summerisle appears to be this, getting Howie to reveal his suitability as a sacrifice to the community - and presumably to the gods as well. Being temped by Willow into losing his virginity is probably the most obvious example.]]
* SexIsEvil: Well, on Summerisle it is.
%% * ShownTheirWork
* SleepingWithTheBoss: A real-life example occurred ''during filming'', when Anthony Shaffer walked into producer Peter Snell's hotel room one morning, and saw Snell in bed with Ingrid Pitt. Pitt was dating Rank Organisation head of exhibition George Pinches at the time, and would later marry and divorce him. Snell believes that this affair cost them a possible deal with Rank to distribute the film, which is why Pitt was cast in the first place.
%% * SmugSnake: [=MacGregor=] the innkeeper. What a loathsome creature he is.
* SoundtrackDissonance: Much of the soundtrack is composed entirely of cheerful folk numbers, and the finalé is set to the rousing ''Summer Is Icumen In''.
* SpiritualSuccessor: ''The Wicker Tree''
* StealthPun: Since the rest of the score is acoustic folk, "Cave Chase", an electric rock and roll instrumental that plays as Howie is chasing villagers through a cave near the end of the film, stands out. According to score composer/arranger Paul Giovanni, this was meant as a pun on "rock music".
* StoutStrength: Oak. [[spoiler:Howie may look more fit, but he doesn't have a chance. The rest of the crowd can just stand around and watch.]] Hinted at early on in the inn, when we see Oak carrying a grown man around on his shoulders for fun.
* TakingYouWithMe: [[spoiler:Howie points out that if ''his'' sacrifice doesn't bring back the crops, only Lord Summerisle will be a suitable sacrifice next year. Summerisle's reaction shows that it briefly hits home before he declares that the crops won't fail; even if he doesn't believe in the island's gods, the rest of the island certainly does!]]
* TapOnTheHead: [[spoiler: When Howie knocks out [=MacGregor=] to [[MuggedForDisguise steal his Punch costume]], even though Howie clearly hits him on the hump on the back of the costume.]]
* TownWithADarkSecret: The islanders certainly aren't afraid to hide their pagan beliefs... [[spoiler:but they keep quiet on the whole HumanSacrifice bit.]]
* ThemeNaming: All the townsfolk are named for trees or plants. May Morrison gets a doubly symbolic name, with May not only being a plant (another name for hawthorn), but also a month of fertility. And when an islander dies, they plant the tree the deceased was named after on the grave, [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSvJgRSiJSM to symbolize that death is part of the cycle of life.]]
* TitleDrop: "Come, it is time to keep your appointment with the Wicker Man."
* TooDumbToLive:
** Though Howie isn't as dumb as Edward Malus from the remake, one has to wonder why he would go investigate a missing person's case on a remote island ''by himself''.
** Also, in the full cut of the film, Police Constable [=McTaggart=] (John Hallam) reads aloud the letter Howie gets. The letter says that Rowan has "been missing for many months." Howie never stops to question why someone would be contacting law enforcement about this situation now if Rowan has been missing for so long (although, in dialogue cut from the film altogether, Howie acknowledges during his first meeting with May Morrison that he ''could'' have been sent on a wild goose chase - too bad he didn't think about that harder before leaving the mainland in the first place - but wanted to cover his bases).
** Furthermore, the locals attempt to thwart his investigation the second he steps off the plane. He never even mentions backup until his first full day on Summerisle, and, on May Day itself, when he finally returns to his plane to bring more officers, he finds the locals have messed with it and his radio.
* {{Troll}}: Starting with the letter, the people of Summerisle subject Howie to an amazingly thorough bout of trolling. They clearly know all of his {{Berserk Button}}s and push them at exactly the right moments.
-->'''Lord Summerisle''': You came here to find Rowan Morrison, but it is we who have found you and brought you here and controlled your every thought and action since you arrived.
* UnexpectedVirgin: Howie. It actually becomes a plot point.
* UrineTrouble: As the Wicker Man burned, the goat in the chamber above Edward Woodward relieved itself in terror on the actor, as well as Robin Hardy, who was in the structure with Woodward.
* ValuesDissonance: In-universe, with Howie being baffled or horrified at the islanders' pagan beliefs and the islanders being equally baffled by his Christian morality - to the extent that it becomes BlueAndOrangeMorality.
* TheVamp: [[spoiler:Invoked with Willow]]
* ViewersAreGeniuses : Argued by Creator/ChristopherLee in the DVDCommentary, [[FunnyAneurysmMoment very shortly before the remake was announced]].
-->'''Christopher Lee''': This attitude that "people wouldn't understand" is far too prevalent in cinema today. People should be able to use what's left of their minds when they watch something.
* VirginPower: As a staunch Christian, Howie is a firm opponent of sex before marriage and displays strength of will by keeping to his beliefs. [[spoiler: In spite of being quite opposed to Howie's belief, the pagan residents of Summerisle also think think his purity gives him certain spiritual qualities.]]
* VirginSacrifice: [[spoiler:Howie's virginity is one of the reasons why he's selected to be manipulated into being sacrificed for the crops.]]
* WeatherSavesTheDay: In a WhatCouldHaveBeen scenario, after reading the completed script, the studio wanted a change: a sudden thunderstorm to put out the burning Wicker Man, and save Howie's life at the last minute so that the movie could have a more positive ending. The scene was filmed as written.
* WhatDoesSheSeeInHim: Howie's fellow police officers wonder this about his fiancé.
* WholePlotReference: More than a little similar to ''Film/EyeOfTheDevil'', a 1966 horror film starring Creator/DavidNiven about a TownWithADarkSecret, featuring a {{Cult}} that holds AFeteWorseThanDeath, concluding with a HumanSacrifice to propitiate the gods in order for the failing crops to become productive again. Possibly averted, as ''The Wicker Man'' was based on a novel called ''Ritual''--but ''Ritual'' was published the year after ''Eye of the Devil'' was released. Regardless of the inspiration, ''The Wicker Man'' is by far the better-remembered film.
* WickedCultured: Exemplified by Lord Summerisle; suave, eloquent and TheChessmaster behind luring an innocent policeman to his death.
* WrongInsultOffence:
-->'''Sgt. Howie:''' It means that you, sir, are a pagan!
-->'''Lord Summerisle:''' A heathen, conceivably, but not - I hope - an unenlightened one.
* YoureInsane: "You're all raving mad!"
----
It is generally considered to be an influential CultClassic within the horror film genre. It was [[{{Remake}} remade]] in 2006 to significantly less acclaim.
In 2011, Hardy released ''The Wicker Tree'', a companion piece of sorts based on his novel 'Cowboys for Christ', with Lee appearing in a cameo (but not, as some have reported, as Lord Summerisle). Hardy was attempting to film a third and final installment in a ''Wicker Man'' trilogy - ''The Wrath of the Gods''. A massive flop of an Indiegogo campaign in Summer 2015 (raising only $8,318 of a goal of ''$210,000'') didn't help matters, and Hardy's death on July 1, 2016 may have completely ended hopes of completing the trilogy.
----
!!This film provides examples of:
* AffablyEvil: Lord Summerisle. Possibly subverted. It's never clear whether Summerisle actually believes the religion of his island, or is just playing along to keep his subjects in line. If the former, he may genuinely believe the sacrifice is necessary for the harvest. And he tries to soothe his intended sacrifice:
-->[[spoiler: '''Howie:''' I am a Christian. And as a Christian I hope for resurrection. And even as if you kill me now, It is I who will live again, not your damned apples! [The Villagers prepare him for sacrifice] No matter what you do, you can't change the fact that I believe in Life Eternal, as promised to us by our Lord Jesus Christ. '''[[RealMenLoveJesus I BELIEVE IN THE LIFE ETERNAL AS PROMISED BY OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST!]]''']]
-->[[spoiler: '''Lord Summerisle:''' That is good. For believing what you do, we confer on you a rare gift these days: A martyr's death. You will not only have life eternal, but you will sit with the saints among the elect. Come, it is time to keep your appointment with [[TitleDrop the Wicker Man]].]]
* AntiHero: A very interesting take on it, too. It seems Howie is an upstanding, responsible policeman trying to find a young girl at least at first, but as the film goes on, he begins to show an uglier side; that of a preachy, Christian religious bigot and {{Jerkass}} who dislikes the islanders for being pagans. [[BlackAndGrayMorality That is]], murderous, perverted, two-faced pagans [[spoiler:who wind up killing him]].
* AntiVillain: The islanders genuinely believe their acts are necessary to save the next harvest.
* {{Arcadia}}: Summerisle sees itself as this (with a neopagan twist), but even before we learn the [[TownWithADarkSecret Dark Secret]], we know something's definitely ''off'' about the place.
* AristocratsAreEvil: Lord Summerisle again.
* ArousedByTheirVoice: Howie can only hear Willow's song, not see her, but he's still tempted. [[EnthrallingSiren Magic may be involved.]]
* ArtisticLicense: In the Director's Cut, Howie receives the anonymous letter on a Sunday. As in the United States, no mail delivery occurs on a Sunday in the UK.
* TheBadGuyWins: Though [[spoiler:thanks to Howie's final speech, only till the apple harvest fails again. If you look at it that way (see TakingYouWithMe further down), you could say that Howie was the real winner.]] It could also be argued that [[spoiler:from Howie's perspective [[DoomedMoralVictor he won]], since Christianity teaches that a principled defeat counts as a victory.]]
* BadLiar: It is really, ''really'' obvious that the villagers of Summerisle are concealing information. Maybe they're fundamentally honest people who aren't used to this sort of thing, or maybe it's all part of the plan, intended to make Howie suspicious and keep him investigating. Probably a mixture of both.
* BasedOnAGreatBigLie: The opening credits thank Lord Summerisle and the people of his island for cooperating in the depiction of their religion. In reality, there was no Lord Summerisle, no Summerisle, and no community of Scots practicing the religion depicted in the movie.
* BatmanGambit: Lord Summerisle's plan is very complex and relies on expertly manipulating Howie. [[spoiler:It works spectacularly well, earning Summerisle's status as both TheChessmaster and ManipulativeBastard.]]
* BawdySong: The customers at a pub engage in a lusty rendition of "The Landlord's Daughter", to the annoyance of the straight-laced protagonist and the amusement of Willow, the ReallyGetsAround daughter of the pub's landlord. As Creator/ChristopherLee said in the DVDCommentary, it's a good song for when you've got a pint in your hand.
** "Gently Johnny" may just be the sweetest, gentlest, most romantic bawdy song you've ever heard. It is also based on a very old song, but is much more explicit than the version commonly sung.
** And then there's Christopher Lee and Diane Cilento dueting ''The Tinker of Rye'', an absolutely filthy song about a tinker [[UnusualEuphemism fixing a woman's kettle]]. The fact that they are both in full evening dress, and Lee is playing the melody for the song on a grand piano [[{{Bathos}} just add to the hilarity]].
* BetterByADifferentName: Because of Creator/ChristopherLee, Ingrid Pitt and [[{{Fanservice}} Willow]] some like to name this "The greatest Film/HammerHorror that wasn't made by the Hammer Studio".
* BodyDouble: Britt Eklund had one intercut with her during "Willow's Song", thanks to ExecutiveMeddling. Eklund found it both annoying and amusing that people would have her autograph a photo of her ''double''.
* BookEnds: The Final Cut begins and ends with an religious ceremony (and Howie [[spoiler:sings "The Lord's My Shepherd" at both of them]]).
* ButIWouldReallyEnjoyIt: Howie doesn't believe in sex before marriage, and is therefore still a virgin. Willow does her best to seduce him [[spoiler: and fails, though Howie is literally trembling with desire]].
* CampStraight: The innkeeper, played by gay mime artist Lindsay Kemp.
* CaptainObvious: During the scene where Howie is in a classroom:
-->'''Howie:''' "I am a police officer. [[LampshadeHanging (laughs at it a bit)]] [[LampshadeHanging As you can see.]]"
* CelibateHero: Howie, as a conservative Christian and bachelor who doesn't believe in sex outside marriage. He's sorely tempted during the film however.
* CreepyChild: All of them, really, but Daisy Pringle in particular.
* ComicallyMissingThePoint: Lord Summerisle.
-->'''Howie:''' But they are... [[FelonyMisdemeanor are naked]]!
-->'''Summerisle:''' Naturally, it's far too dangerous to jump through fire with your clothes on!
* CorruptHick: Almost everyone on Summerisle.
* CorruptChurch: "Since it is no longer used for Christian worship, whether it is still a church is debatable."
* CrapsaccharineWorld: Summerisle
* CreatorCameo:
** Robin Hardy plays the preacher in the scene in the church in the film's opening minutes. This is one of the major parts of the film cut from the theatrical release, but is available on the uncut (full 102-minute film) and middle (typically, 92 to 95 minutes) versions.
** Anthony Shaffer is one of the villagers who surround Howie on the clifftop at the beginning of the film's climax.
** The film's music composer, New Yorker Paul Giovanni, and musical director, Gary Carpenter, make several appearances throughout the film, playing instruments along with the other members of the band formed specifically for this movie, Magnet. Carpenter is the one playing the lyre during the climax, when Howie is stripped and anointed by Willow and the Librarian. Carpenter says during filming one day, Giovanni suggested the band try marijuana. The band were so high, they couldn't play their instruments.
* CreditsGag: The director's and theatrical cuts open with a title card reading the following:
-->"The Producer [Peter Snell] would like to thank The Lord Summerisle and the people of his island off the west coast of Scotland for this privileged insight into their religious practices and for their generous co-operation [''sic''] in the making of this film."
** This is despite the fact that the film is never actually ''presented'' as a mockumentary, though it contains a lot of hand-held camera shots.
** The "middle" version (released in 2013 as ''The Wicker Man: The Final Cut'') opens with a time card reading, "Sunday - The 29th of April 1973". This leads into the church scene on the mainland.
* CreepyCrossdresser: Lord Summerisle dresses as a woman for the May Day parade.
* CruelTwistEnding: An incredibly famous one; see also ItWasHisSled.
* CueCard: In the climax, Edward Woodward used one for his lines. Looking at [[http://i2.wp.com/www.retronaut.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Wicker-Man-Cue-Cards.jpg?resize=500%2C739 this photo]], it seems Christopher Lee used it, as well. Woodward and the prop department opted to use the card, because the burning of the wicker man had to be shot when the weather was good, and he had yet to really learn Howie's lines for the scene. According to director Robin Hardy, the climax was shot on a day late in the year when the weather was getting progressively worse day-by-day.
* {{Cult}}: The pagan sect on the island was started almost by accident by Lord Summerisle's grandfather, and then continued by his children.
* DaylightHorror: Many of the events in the movie take place during the day, with the climax happening at dusk. It lets the audience admire the SceneryPorn and also makes the bizarre behavior of the townspeople even more unsettling.
* DarkReprise: [[spoiler:Howie's reprise of the 23rd Psalm]] as counterpoint to the townsfolk's "Sumer is Icumen In" at the film's climax.
* DeadpanSnarker: Lord Summerisle quite often.
* DeathBySex: {{Inverted}}. [[spoiler: The pious virgin is killed, and losing his virginity just might have made him an unacceptable sacrifice.]]
* DeliberateValuesDissonance: The lion's share of the movie's creepiness comprises of this.
* DistinctionWithoutADifference: [[spoiler:"Now you can wrap it up any way you like, but you are about to commit ''murder.''"]]
* DoomedMoralVictor: [[spoiler:Howie of course.]]
* DoubleEntendre:
** The song Willow sings to seduce Howie is almost nothing but these.
-->''How a maid can milk a bull!.... And every stroke a bucket full."[[note]]Taken from the 11th century drinking song "Martin Said To His Man".[[/note]]
** Likewise "The Landlord's Daughter" song.
-->And, when her name is mentioned...The parts of every gentleman...[[SomethingElseAlsoRises Do stand up at attention.]]
%% * TheDragon: Oak
* DressingAsTheEnemy [[spoiler:It gets Howie killed.]]
* DyingCurse: [[spoiler:Howie throws an awesome one in Lord Summerisle's face at the end. See TakingYouWithMe below.]]
* DyingMomentOfAwesome: [[spoiler:The movie has Howie [[FaceDeathWithDignity die with dignity]]. The novelization by [[WordOfGod the director and writer of the original film]] actually has him die being a badass: actually freeing a flock of birds from the Wicker Man's arm ''as it's burning'', because he feels that, as long as he saves ''some'' sort of life, his police mission will have not been completely in vain.]]
* TheEndingChangesEverything The ending makes us see the islanders and their actions throughout the film in a new light.
%% * EnfantTerrible: [[spoiler:Rowan.]]
* EnthrallingSiren: A case of MaybeMagicMaybeMundane when Willow dances naked in the room next to Howie's, slapping the wall between them and singing to him. The staunchly Christian Howie is literally trembling with desire, but doesn't succumb.
* EveryoneLovesBlondes: Blonde hair certainly seems to be a requirement for a female leadership role on Summerisle.
* EvilSoundsDeep: Creator/ChristopherLee is in this movie.
* ExtremelyShortTimespan: Takes place over about 48 hours.
* FaceDeathWithDignity: [[spoiler:Rather [[LargeHam hammily]] averted at first by Howie ("OH MY GOOOOOD!") but once the fire is actually lit, played straight, as Howie accepts his death and prays for his soul to go to Heaven.]]
* FacelessGoons: "Take those masks off!"
* FakeShemp: Britt Ekland would only agree to shoot her nude scenes from the waist up. A body double was secretly used for the naked rear shots of Willow dancing. The scenes were filmed after she had left the set. After shooting was over, not only was Ekland furious to learn she had been doubled in some shots but that she was also a few weeks pregnant in that scene.
* {{Fanservice}}: Would you like to watch Britt Ekland [[http://vimeo.com/30010266 dance naked?]] Don't get too excited, since the [[spoiler: butt]] shots are a body double. To Ekland's disgust, people are forever asking her to autograph stills of that one particular scene. She has to patiently explain to them that it isn't actually her.
* AFeteWorseThanDeath: The climax occurs during the May Day celebrations.
* FilkSong: Music/BruceDickinson[='=]s "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGRi3RQ-_gU Wicker Man]]" ([[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZkAQoa1plM&ob=av2e the one]] he co-wrote after rejoining Music/IronMaiden - quoted in the caption above - [[WordSaladLyrics less so]])
* ForegoneConclusion: It's right there in the title.
** Even worse, the original poster for the British theatrical release showed the structure itself on the hill where it stood. This angered Shaffer and Hardy, the latter of whom compared it to a poster of ''{{Film/Psycho}}'' telling people "Norman Bates's mother is actually Norman himself."
** Or [[http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Wicker-Man-Edward-Woodward/dp/B00004CYAO this VHS artwork]], which may as well just say, [[spoiler: "Don't buy this film; you are looking the ending square in the face."]]
* ForTheEvulz:
** The only possible explanation for Daisy's beetle-abuse.
** That, or it's a symbol of Howie's fate: [[spoiler: the closer he gets to the answer of where Rowan is (i.e. the more he goes around the nail), the more entangled he is and the more difficult it is for him to escape.]]
* GambitRoulette: Summerisle's plan to [[spoiler: trick Sgt. Howie into coming to the island of his own free will and stay until May Day so they can sacrifice him.]] There's a lot of chance in this plan and a lot can go wrong.
* GenreBusting: Is it a crime movie? A horror movie? A mystery? A [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane fantasy]] movie? You can even argue that it's a Musical, if you're so inclined... or an excuse (albeit a good one) for Fanservice.
%% * GiantMook: Oak.
* GreyAndGrayMorality: Howie, whatever you think of his blustery self-righteousness, is genuinely trying to be a good police officer and save a child's life. The villagers [[spoiler: with the possible exception of Lord Summerisle]], however creeped out you may be by their practices, genuinely believe that they are saving their harvest.
* HandOfGlory: A Hand of Glory is placed next to Howie's bedside whilst he sleeps in an effort to make him sleep through the May Day celebrations. [[spoiler:Or at least that's what they ''want'' him to think.]]
* TheHeroDies: [[spoiler:Howie himself at the end.]]
* HolierThanThou: Sgt. Howie's behavior is, depending on interpretation, either that of a sanctimonious prude, that of a deeply honourable and upright officer motivated by his faith or both.
* HorrorDoesntSettleForSimpleTuesday: The movie is set at May Day. Although, according to the calendar in the chemist's, it ''is'' a Tuesday. Just not a normal Tuesday.
* HotLibrarian: Played by Hammer Horror regular Ingrid Pitt.
* HumanSacrifice: The islanders sincerely believe that [[spoiler:[[HumanResources Howie's death will revitalise their crops]]]].
* INeedAFreakingDrink: After failing to start his plane or find Rowan, Howie returns to the Green Man for a "big glass of whisky."
* {{Infodump}}: Lord Summerisle explaining to Howie how the island converted to paganism. But it's written in a way that reveals a lot about who he is, and introduces some important themes into the story.
* IntercourseWithYou: ''[[{{Fanservice}} Heyyy, hoooo, who is there?...]]''
* ItsAlwaysSpring: The film was shot in mainland Scotland from early October to late November 1972. Because it took place in the Spring of 1973, the film crew had to bring that season with them, gluing blossoms to trees, and, as Edward Woodward recalled, hauling in trees on trucks to be placed in certain scenes. The cold temperatures forced the actors to place ice cubes in their mouths during outdoor shooting so that their breath wouldn't be seen on camera. However, there are parts of the film where you can see Autumn leaves on the ground, so, the crew didn't completely hide the fact that it was Fall.
* IWantSong: Most of the songs, except the hero's song, which is the 23rd Psalm, starting "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want."
* {{Jerkass}}: Lord Summerisle, the island inhabitants, and some of Howie's co-workers from the original version's beginning and even Howie himself to an extent. Despite his {{affab|lyEvil}}ility, Lord Summerisle probably reigns supreme in this category; as the co-workers are minor, the inhabitants genuinely devout, and Howie at least genuinely wants to do the right thing. Summerisle has no real excuse.
* KidsAreCruel: "The little old beetle goes 'round and 'round. Always the same way, y'see, until it ends up right up tight to the nail. Poor old thing!"
%% * LargeHam: Creator/ChristopherLee.
%% * MaybeMagicMaybeMundane
* MyCarHatesMe: Howie's hydroplane breaks down, aborting his attempt to go back and get more officers.
* MyGirlIsASlut: When Alder [=MacGregor=] introduces his daughter Willow, the bar patrons break into a BawdySong about her promiscuity, which delights her and doesn't faze her father.
* TheNameSake: The titular effigy doesn't show up until the very end.
* NecessarilyEvil: Many of the villagers are visibly disturbed at the film's climax, but still participate for fear of [[spoiler:another crop failure]].
* NoAnimalsWereHarmed: Britt Ekland claimed that some of the animals inside the wicker man died when it was burned. Robin Hardy has repeatedly assured that the animals were in no danger; the wicker man was completely empty when it was set on fire, and fires were built in front of the animals to make sure they weren't hurt. He also said the animals were repeatedly placed in and taken out of the structure.
* NoNameGiven: Lord Summerisle is only addressed by his title, with no first name shown.
* NotEvenBotheringWithTheAccent:
** Despite the island being somewhere off the coast of Scotland, Lord Summerisle speaks with Creator/ChristopherLee's normal Received Pronunciation accent. Although being a member of the aristocracy, he was probably privately educated and had elocution lessons.
** There's no particular reason why the Librarian speaks with a faint Polish accent, other than that she's played by Ingrid Pitt.
* NothingIsScarier: There are no real "scares" to speak of, no monsters...the town and its inhabitants are just really, really creepy.
* {{Novelization}}: In 1978, a book based on the film written by Robin Hardy and Anthony Shaffer[[note]]Well, primarily by Hardy; some of Shaffer's dialogue from the film was used word-for-word, so, he got credit.[[/note]] was published in the United States, right when the film was picking up steam in America. The readers get more detail of Howie and Mary's relationship, as well as the former's interest in bird-watching. In later editions, Scottish author Allan Brown, who has written many published works about the film, including a popular behind-the-scenes book, wrote a foreword, where he argued that Howie's arguments with Summerisle have more impact on paper than they did in the film, since casting Christopher Lee made viewers automatically assume he was the villain, as he had played so many in his career already.
* NudeNatureDance: Towards the middle, Howie sees a group of young pregnant women dancing around a fire, nude. See ComicallyMissingThePoint for the reaction.
* OhCrap:
** This is one of the few films where the main character can shout "Oh Jesus Christ!" and have it come across as a true, in-character OhCrap moment.
** Christopher Lee has a nicely subtle one when [[spoiler:Howie points out that if his own death doesn't help the next harvest, the villagers will likely conclude that only Summerisle himself will be a large enough sacrifice to satisfy their gods]].
* PathOfInspiration: {{Lampshaded}}. Lord Summerisle openly admits that his ancestor was a "Victorian freethinker" and propagated Celtic paganism among the villagers only to ensure social stability. It is strongly implied he also sees the local religion merely as a tool of control.
* PeekABooCorpse:
** But it's in a coffin.
** Subverted in a prank a girl plays on Howie while he searches for Rowan.
* PottyFailure: Edward Woodward and Robin Hardy were urinated on by a frightened goat sitting in the chamber above them in the wicker man while filming the climax.
* PragmaticAdaptation: Anthony Shaffer started out trying to adapt David Pinner's 1967 novel ''Ritual'' but decided it wouldn't work as a film. He took the basic concept (a puritanical police officer investigates a crime in a isolated community with a thriving pagan religion) and a few specific points (most notably a woman who attempts to seduce the cop) and built a new story around them. There's been some sniping between Pinner, Shaffer and Hardy over exactly how much ''The Wicker Man'' borrowed from ''Ritual''. [[http://strange-complex.livejournal.com/523368.html?s2id=16289359 This is a good summary]] of the relation between the two works.
* PunctuatedForEmphasis: "THEY. WILL. NOT. FAIL."
* QuirkyTown: Summerisle seems like one at first, but we quickly realize it's a TownWithADarkSecret.
%% * TheRadioDiesFirst
* RedHerring: At first Howie suspects Rowan has been murdered, but then discovers evidence that she has been kidnapped and is being held prisoner waiting to be sacrificed. [[spoiler:It's a trick for both the audience and Howie; the actual plan is to use Rowan as bait to lure Howie to be the sacrifice instead.]]
* ReligiousHorror: A culture-clash of a devoutly religious Christian in a community of neo-pagans on a remote island.
* RiddleForTheAges: Why ''was'' Willow trying to seduce Howie? [[spoiler:As a SecretTestOfCharacter to prove he was a perfect sacrifice? If Howie caved, it would ruin the sacrifice, so was she warning him? Maybe trying to ''save'' him by ruining him for the sacrifice? Was she just genuinely attracted to him? None of these questions are answered.]]
* SceneryPorn: There's plenty of gorgeous shots of the Scottish islands.
* TheScream: "[[BigNo NO!]] For the love of God, THINK WHAT YOU'RE DOING!"
* SecretTestOfCharacter: [[spoiler:Much of the eccentric behaviour of the islanders as directed by Lord Summerisle appears to be this, getting Howie to reveal his suitability as a sacrifice to the community - and presumably to the gods as well. Being temped by Willow into losing his virginity is probably the most obvious example.]]
* SexIsEvil: Well, on Summerisle it is.
%% * ShownTheirWork
* SleepingWithTheBoss: A real-life example occurred ''during filming'', when Anthony Shaffer walked into producer Peter Snell's hotel room one morning, and saw Snell in bed with Ingrid Pitt. Pitt was dating Rank Organisation head of exhibition George Pinches at the time, and would later marry and divorce him. Snell believes that this affair cost them a possible deal with Rank to distribute the film, which is why Pitt was cast in the first place.
%% * SmugSnake: [=MacGregor=] the innkeeper. What a loathsome creature he is.
* SoundtrackDissonance: Much of the soundtrack is composed entirely of cheerful folk numbers, and the finalé is set to the rousing ''Summer Is Icumen In''.
* SpiritualSuccessor: ''The Wicker Tree''
* StealthPun: Since the rest of the score is acoustic folk, "Cave Chase", an electric rock and roll instrumental that plays as Howie is chasing villagers through a cave near the end of the film, stands out. According to score composer/arranger Paul Giovanni, this was meant as a pun on "rock music".
* StoutStrength: Oak. [[spoiler:Howie may look more fit, but he doesn't have a chance. The rest of the crowd can just stand around and watch.]] Hinted at early on in the inn, when we see Oak carrying a grown man around on his shoulders for fun.
* TakingYouWithMe: [[spoiler:Howie points out that if ''his'' sacrifice doesn't bring back the crops, only Lord Summerisle will be a suitable sacrifice next year. Summerisle's reaction shows that it briefly hits home before he declares that the crops won't fail; even if he doesn't believe in the island's gods, the rest of the island certainly does!]]
* TapOnTheHead: [[spoiler: When Howie knocks out [=MacGregor=] to [[MuggedForDisguise steal his Punch costume]], even though Howie clearly hits him on the hump on the back of the costume.]]
* TownWithADarkSecret: The islanders certainly aren't afraid to hide their pagan beliefs... [[spoiler:but they keep quiet on the whole HumanSacrifice bit.]]
* ThemeNaming: All the townsfolk are named for trees or plants. May Morrison gets a doubly symbolic name, with May not only being a plant (another name for hawthorn), but also a month of fertility. And when an islander dies, they plant the tree the deceased was named after on the grave, [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSvJgRSiJSM to symbolize that death is part of the cycle of life.]]
* TitleDrop: "Come, it is time to keep your appointment with the Wicker Man."
* TooDumbToLive:
** Though Howie isn't as dumb as Edward Malus from the remake, one has to wonder why he would go investigate a missing person's case on a remote island ''by himself''.
** Also, in the full cut of the film, Police Constable [=McTaggart=] (John Hallam) reads aloud the letter Howie gets. The letter says that Rowan has "been missing for many months." Howie never stops to question why someone would be contacting law enforcement about this situation now if Rowan has been missing for so long (although, in dialogue cut from the film altogether, Howie acknowledges during his first meeting with May Morrison that he ''could'' have been sent on a wild goose chase - too bad he didn't think about that harder before leaving the mainland in the first place - but wanted to cover his bases).
** Furthermore, the locals attempt to thwart his investigation the second he steps off the plane. He never even mentions backup until his first full day on Summerisle, and, on May Day itself, when he finally returns to his plane to bring more officers, he finds the locals have messed with it and his radio.
* {{Troll}}: Starting with the letter, the people of Summerisle subject Howie to an amazingly thorough bout of trolling. They clearly know all of his {{Berserk Button}}s and push them at exactly the right moments.
-->'''Lord Summerisle''': You came here to find Rowan Morrison, but it is we who have found you and brought you here and controlled your every thought and action since you arrived.
* UnexpectedVirgin: Howie. It actually becomes a plot point.
* UrineTrouble: As the Wicker Man burned, the goat in the chamber above Edward Woodward relieved itself in terror on the actor, as well as Robin Hardy, who was in the structure with Woodward.
* ValuesDissonance: In-universe, with Howie being baffled or horrified at the islanders' pagan beliefs and the islanders being equally baffled by his Christian morality - to the extent that it becomes BlueAndOrangeMorality.
* TheVamp: [[spoiler:Invoked with Willow]]
* ViewersAreGeniuses : Argued by Creator/ChristopherLee in the DVDCommentary, [[FunnyAneurysmMoment very shortly before the remake was announced]].
-->'''Christopher Lee''': This attitude that "people wouldn't understand" is far too prevalent in cinema today. People should be able to use what's left of their minds when they watch something.
* VirginPower: As a staunch Christian, Howie is a firm opponent of sex before marriage and displays strength of will by keeping to his beliefs. [[spoiler: In spite of being quite opposed to Howie's belief, the pagan residents of Summerisle also think think his purity gives him certain spiritual qualities.]]
* VirginSacrifice: [[spoiler:Howie's virginity is one of the reasons why he's selected to be manipulated into being sacrificed for the crops.]]
* WeatherSavesTheDay: In a WhatCouldHaveBeen scenario, after reading the completed script, the studio wanted a change: a sudden thunderstorm to put out the burning Wicker Man, and save Howie's life at the last minute so that the movie could have a more positive ending. The scene was filmed as written.
* WhatDoesSheSeeInHim: Howie's fellow police officers wonder this about his fiancé.
* WholePlotReference: More than a little similar to ''Film/EyeOfTheDevil'', a 1966 horror film starring Creator/DavidNiven about a TownWithADarkSecret, featuring a {{Cult}} that holds AFeteWorseThanDeath, concluding with a HumanSacrifice to propitiate the gods in order for the failing crops to become productive again. Possibly averted, as ''The Wicker Man'' was based on a novel called ''Ritual''--but ''Ritual'' was published the year after ''Eye of the Devil'' was released. Regardless of the inspiration, ''The Wicker Man'' is by far the better-remembered film.
* WickedCultured: Exemplified by Lord Summerisle; suave, eloquent and TheChessmaster behind luring an innocent policeman to his death.
* WrongInsultOffence:
-->'''Sgt. Howie:''' It means that you, sir, are a pagan!
-->'''Lord Summerisle:''' A heathen, conceivably, but not - I hope - an unenlightened one.
* YoureInsane: "You're all raving mad!"
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