Confession: We’ve been faking it… and THE WICKER MAN might be one of the most important horror movies we somehow never watched.
In this episode of Confessions of a Film Poser, we finally watch Robin Hardy’s THE WICKER MAN (1973) for the very first time, and we were not prepared for just how strange, funny, musical, unsettling, and completely unlike almost any other horror movie this thing is.
Starring Edward Woodward as Police Sergeant Neil Howie and Christopher Lee as Lord Summerisle, THE WICKER MAN follows Howie as he travels to a remote Scottish island to investigate the disappearance of a young girl named Rowan Morrison.
But the islanders insist she never existed.
And the deeper Howie digs, the stranger things get.
Very strange.
Extremely musical.
Directed by Robin Hardy and written by Anthony Shaffer, THE WICKER MAN became one of the defining films of folk horror, blending mystery, religion, pagan ritual, dark comedy, music, and an increasingly overwhelming sense that Sergeant Howie may have made a very bad decision coming to Summerisle.
Along the way, we talk about Edward Woodward’s performance, Christopher Lee in full Lord Summerisle mode, the bizarre residents of the island, the movie’s unforgettable songs, its clash between Christianity and paganism, and why THE WICKER MAN feels so different from almost every other horror movie of its era.
From its deceptively calm opening to its increasingly surreal rituals and one of the most famous endings in horror history, we break down our genuine first-time reactions, the moments that surprised us most, what worked, what didn’t, and whether this cult classic still deserves its legendary reputation more than 50 years later.
Is THE WICKER MAN one of the greatest folk horror movies ever made...
or is Summerisle just a very strange place to spend a weekend?
If you're into first-time movie reactions, classic horror, 70s horror movies, folk horror, cult films, Christopher Lee, movie discussions, and honest, unfiltered conversations about cinema, welcome to the Poser Movie Club.
🔥 What is the greatest folk horror movie of all time?
The Wicker Man?
Midsommar?
The Witch?
Blood on Satan’s Claw?
Something else?
Let us know in the comments.
🎬 Previous Episode: THE CHANGELING (1980) 👉
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