The movie that arguably helped to start the folk horror movie the most, The Wicker Man is an excellent tale about the clash between a Christian cop searching for the missing of a child and a scottish community that believed in the old gods. This movie is excellent in its entirety. However, the ending will send chills down your spine.

The golden standard when it comes to folk horror. Plain and simple.

Protagonist is an unlikable Bible-thumper but the unintentionally hilarious setting makes it fun to watch

Excellent. What you’d expect a community stuck away in Nordic and Ancient Scots folklore

Finally, I can understand a secular society and the so told revolutionary effects on that particular social evolutionary decline. All the while questioning one's morals within. From now until forever, I shall always be searching for the disappearance of Ruin Morissette.

The surrounding notoriety of “The Wicker Man” remade in 2006 starring Nicolas Cage effectively resurrected the story under piqued attention, which led to having the signature twist unveiled prematurely. 2006’s director Neil LaBute seemingly sought in cashing on the genre’s firmer foundations being reworked to further rust without much attributive originality to guarantee impressionable significance beyond the given reputation’s negative reception. It ideally been proven to work in going for the unfamiliar angle that supposedly modernizes how it was done previously, not for the better by the way. Robin Hardy’s directorial passion has gotten connected to the 1973 cultural take on pagan horror with an edgier grit ethically driven through an investigative narrative that’s been brewing the somewhat chills as the twists and turns been going back and forth, spiked by the decade’s stark saturation for an unsettling mixture. It unfortunately got affected by its own legacy, like most horror tales unable to separate from having an intimidating, timeless impact but rather as formulaic feats to self-destruct its fearful intentions. Though a notion been previously assured that such knowledge wouldn’t change the climatically built effect, if only it wasn’t so obvious that is, as well it doesn’t change the profound disturbance at the end. So which leaves performative deliverance in carrying the film besides its structural intelligence, exceptionally excelled by Edward Woodward and Christopher Lee with mesmerizing convictions over influential religious reliefs they had to embrace. Watching the original and remake back-and-forth easily declare a winner in the double feature when the latter’s approach showed frivolous, immature execution that visually parodies the circumstantially weighted gravity. The only provocative effect is to see the original if haven’t done so, to actually see how comparably bad and how much the remake lacks as it only replays the scenic direction in conversationally coerced matters that made the outing much lower than immediate predictability with misled “edge”. Because of that, it apparently lost the pull into welcomed slumber, contrast to the diegetic yearn. Even though there isn’t much enthusiasm towards the British film due to how disturbing it anchored, there’s no need to argue that the remake is soulless after witnessing what unfolded prior – unless star power actually becomes the appealing factor in terms of familiarity. Though with zero interest in ever seeing it nor any direct connections besides associated spirituality, Ari Aster’s “Midsommar” did, however, came to mind upon watching the traditional celebrations unfolded in the 1973 original, especially the tactics it’s characteristically used. Even without seeing it, just from a glance and narrative familiarity actually show true modernization of the story Robin Hardy directed and became one of the genre’s cherished influences to inspire effective frights.

Well its up with the greats quite clearly, but im sure I will recieve critisism to say some parts where a tad cringe? The plot seemed glued together it didn't really hit me too hard? I feel bad about the way I have rated this but its my honest opinion.

Loosely based on the novel "Ritual" by David Pinner. After leaving Hammer Studios, Christopher Lee wanted to do something unconventional with screenwriter Anthony Shaffer, a horror film that involved the "old religion". After acquiring the rights to the Pinner novel, they wanted the film to be something more literate, without relying on the current convention of gore to be scary. What resulted was an intriguing mystery horror, pitting Christianity against Paganism. The filmmakers wanted to be as accurate as they could in the esoteric elements of the story, using their main resource Sir James Frazer's book "The Golden Bough". Music was also pivotally important to the narrative. There have been a few different cuts of the film, the most compelling being the 2001 Anchor Bay wooden box set that includes a rather interesting opening and an even more interesting dance segment the day before May Day. There is a deep-rooted complication to the ending between the two religions, brilliantly done with terrifying effect. An exquisitely made movie, one of the best.

A creatively and stylefully shot horrorcomedy where the protagonist is a fool who is constantly in enraged shock by the outrageous agan habits of the small island soceity he is visiting to investigate the disappearance of a young girl. This unfolds into a delightful spiral into madness, as this royalist christian copper reveals himself not to be the kind that wants to save the heathens, but ultimately curse them when he finally realises he never had any resemblance of a upperhand at all. Something the audience was delightfully aware all along. The performances are all great, the set- and costume designs excellent. The movie shines in it's musical sequences where even our cleancut, prude protagonist finds himself enthralled and bewitched into experiencing and confronting his own desires to be sinful. Highly entertaining, would highly recommend.

An absolute masterpiece. A film you cannot place into any category; totally unique. Strangely uplifting too. Perhaps it's the community spirit that appeals ! You will have to watch it to understand.

This is such an unsettling film. It’s brilliant.

One of my favorites. A great psychological horror movie with Lee and Woodward whom I'm a big fan of. I had to watch it twice to really figure out why Woodward's character was targeted. I love the landlord's daughter song and representation of the island's odd customs. Then the climax ending with Lee and the townsfolk singing and swaying as the wicker man burns. It's a masterpiece.

Both entertaining and terrifying at the same time. The weirdness keeps you invested right up until the end. I've been hesitant to recommend it to others simply due to the shocking ending

This most definitely inspired Aster’s Midsommar. “The Wicker Man” is a horror… musical? Shocking, but it executes its genres in a certain way that makes this feels like one of the most influential horror films of all time. Christopher Lee knocks this out, is still unarguably one of our best actors of all time, and the cinematography and directorial choices are all bangers. Completely atmospheric in every way.

As a witchy gal I really enjoyed this films strong occult imagery and witchcraft symbolism! Way ahead of it's time in my opinion. Creepy and intriguing with a couple good plot twists Light some candles, sprinkle your popcorn with protection salt and enjoy!

All Time Classic. Everything is really well done about it. It's a solid arthouse type of thriller you think until the final 10-15 minutes when he plot twist occurs. And everything truly makes sense. This truly wins points just for one of the most bizarre, original, and twisted endings I've ever seen. It ruly makes the entire film and is just beyond memorable. It asks questions about religion and in a way is a satire of it at the same time. It's very difficult to describe but this is 100% a horror movie but it doesn't feel anything close to it until the final 15 minutes and even than it's nothing like I can describe. It's almost like The Exorcist ending where the horror is a truly unique kind of unsettling. This walks such a fine line between absract, original, and clever that doesn't really become apprant until the end. I truly can't state enough just stay with it until the final 15 minutes. You feel it's building to something in the second half as it just gets weird but never gets weird in the way the reamke does where you laugh. You become more intrigued. I really can't describe it. In a way the weird stuff like the nudity, weird girls being taught sex stuff in the school house, the animal party masks, none of this should work. But it somehow does. Everyone should give this a try once. One of the most original things I've ever seen.

Toda la película es entretenida, en ningún momento te aburres. La trama y su historia son muy buenas. Supongo que era algo nueva para su época..

After the debacle which was the 2006 remake I decided to save my sanity with the original 1973 'The Wicker Man'. SYNOPSIS: 'A puritan police sergeant arrives in a Scottish island village in search of a missing girl, who the pagan locals claim never existed.' Although the remake shares the same premise of the original film, and a lot of the same dialogue, they're very different films. They're night and day. Poles apart. This film is an intelligent horror film which builds the chills and the horror slowly and subtly. It's part folk musical, part occult chiller, and quite bonkers. Edward Woodward is incredible as the religious police officer who is offended by everything he finds on the island before his untimely and horrific death. The film is also a fantastic look at the horror genre of 1970's Britain and the things which were considered to be disturbing and upsetting to the general public at the time. 'The Wicker Man' is a minimalistic horror masterpiece. A classic. Is this the most impactful and disturbing ending in movie history? 9/10

"The Wicker Man" shows viewers that a good horror movie doesn't need to rely on jump scares or gory slashings to frighten the audience. I'd classify the movie more as a disturbing suspenseful drama/mystery about religious philosophy. Also surprised by the great score and music.

The Wicker Man does a great job leading up to the spectacular ending reveal with the help of a fantastic soundtrack. It's one of my favorite horror reveals.