The Wicker Man

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The Wicker Man (1973) directed by Robin Hardy, stars Edward Woodward as Sergeant Neil Howie a policeman who is lured to Summerisle in order to help investigate the disappearance of Rowan Morrison, a young girl who has been missing for quite some time. However, this isn’t a typical detective story, the island Sergeant Howie finds himself in is unlike any other. The film quickly turns into a horror film thanks to the events that happen in the island and the kind of people who inhabit it. Sergeant Howie’s trip to the island begins with him investigating the disappearance of a young girl to finding himself at the center of this unusual place. He will soon find that he got more than he bargained for. The film opens with shots of an airplane, …show more content…

Sergeant Howie notices that last year’s photo is missing to which the landlord replies with, “Mm, it got broke” and then changes the subject by informing him that his supper is ready. After his supper, Howie takes a walk outside and sees couples copulating out in the open, which disgusts him and he quickly runs up to his room. There, he kneels down and begins to pray. While he’s praying, he thinks back to the holy communion he took part of and the words that he spoke during the service. This scene reveals that Sergeant Howie is a Christian who believes in Jesus Christ and aspires to follow his ways. While he’s praying, he’s interrupted by Willow, the landlord’s daughter, who begins to dance naked and sing along to the music that is being played downstairs. Her room is next to his room and as she’s dancing, she bangs her hand on his door trying to seduce him. Sergeant Howie opens his door for a brief moment but resists temptation. The next morning, Willow speaks with him and asks him why he didn’t come over last night to be with her and he reveals to her that he is a virgin who wants to wait until marriage. She then tells him that he wouldn’t want to be around May Day then based on his religion indicating that the inhabitants of the island practice a sort of different religion, Paganism. Later on, Sergeant …show more content…

Edward Woodward and Christopher Lee’s performances as Sergeant Howie and Lord Summerisle respectively, help bring Anthony Shaffer’s script to life and add to eeriness the film gives audiences. Not to mention the giant wicker man at the end where Sergeant Howie

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