10 Best The Wicker Man Moments
2. The Sacrificial Victim
Even after fifty years, with The Wicker Man‘s plot being well known amongst most horror fans, the film’s finale remains confounding.
After a daring escape attempt, Howie is betrayed by the one he has tried so desperately to save. We share in his dismay as Rowan Morrison herself gleefully runs into the open arms of Lord Summerisle. Unlike what we have all been led to believe, Rowan is not the intended sacrificial victim; the purity of a child cannot compare to the infinitely rarer purity of a grown man.
Combined with his authority as a police officer, Howie’s virginity and willingness to save the life of another makes him the perfect sacrifice. It is genuinely heartbreaking to see how he has been manipulated, even before he set foot on the island.
Many of the film’s contrasting themes come to a head in this moment. As he’s prepared to be King for a day, Howie still rejects the island’s culture, loudly proclaiming himself as a follower of Christ. Lord Summerisle smiles on, conveying his happiness that his community fulfils the greatest ambition for anyone with Howie’s beliefs: sainthood through a martyr’s death.
Recommended for you: Kissing the Devil’s Arse: Witch-Hunting in Eurocult Cinema, c.1968-1976
1. The Appointment With the Wicker Man
It is one of the great philosophical arguments of whether the means justify the ends and vice versa, and it links directly with the question surrounding The Wicker Man‘s ending. Which act is more evil: knowing oneself is wicked when committing a murder, or believing yourself righteous in the act of murder? Either way, Howie’s demise remains the most devastating and brutal in all of horror.
Not only is there the sheer terror of being burned alive (a fate you can hear the countless animals noisily succumb to who are in the same wicker prison as yourself) but there are hundreds of onlookers happily singing as they watch the unhappy victim die.
Heinous. Monstrous. Evil. Obscured by smoke and leaping flames, the sight of Howie tearfully reciting his final prayers remains the most tragic and macabre ending in all of horror.
Recommended for you: 10 Best Horror Movie Moments of the 1970s
Despite society’s continuous developments regarding faith and culture, The Wicker Man‘s examination of religious themes still holds relevance today. The plight of religious freedom and the protection of human rights which are infringed upon on religious grounds remain some of the greatest issues inflicting modern society.
But which moments from this classic folk horror film do you think are the most effective? Does The Wicker Man scare you? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to follow @thefilmagazine on Facebook and X (Twitter) for more insightful movie lists.
