Review of The Wicker Man (1973) by Janna M — 31 May 2012

Sgt. Neil Howie is a Scotish police officer who is sent to a remote island named Summerisle in search of a missing girl by the name of Rowan Morrison. Apon his arrival, Sgt. Howie is greeted by the townspeople and questions them about the dissapearance of the girl.

The men respond to him as if the girl is not one from the island. As the movie goes on, Sgt. Howie learns that the people of Summerisle live akward lifestyles and have unique beliefs. He enters a classroom and learns that students are taught Pagan beliefs such as that all of life comes from trees, and reincarnation.

The teacher tells him that Rowan once existed but was buried in the graveyard. Sgt. Howie later digs up the grave and finds a hare inside the coffin. Outraged at what he finds, Sgt. Howie enters Lord Summerisle's mansion and throws the body of the hare on the floor and demands Lord Summerisle's explanation.

He tells Sgt. Howie that Rowan Morrisons spirit has passed on and she now takes the form on a hare. Sgt. Howie tells Lord Summerisle that he believes Rowan Morrison was murdered due to pagan barvarism.

When he leaves, Sgt. Howie attempts to go to his plane and return to the mainland to get more police officers. Once he is inside, he cant start up his plane. He tells the man who rowed him to his boat that his plane has been tampered with.

The man tells Sgt. Howie that if anyone were to tampere with it he would have seen it. That means that Sgt. Howie must stay for the May day festival and find Rowan Morrison by himself. Before the festival he hears a man say that during the festival there will be a human sacrafice to the Gods.

Sgt. Howie is afraid that Rowan Morrison isnt dead, and if he doesnt find her quick, she will be sacraficed. After alot of unsucessfull searching, Sgt. Howie doesnt find Rowan and returns back to his hotel room.

He looks into a room and sees a man in full costume for the festival. he walks into the room and knocks the man out, then puts on his costume so he can take part in the parade himself. At the time of the festival, the townspeople all march to a spot on top of a hill to a monument, which Sgt.

Howie is taking place in the festival but Sgt. Howies identity is kept secret by his mask. Six swordsman interlock their swords into a hexagram, as one by one the townspeople have the hexagram dropped down to their neck level.

The swordsman raise the swords as the townspeople are relieved that they were not sacraficed. The festival then moves to a spot by the shore. When Sgt. Howie looks up he sees none other than Rowan Morrison.

He bolts up the slope and unties Rowan. Both run into the cave in an attempt to escape. They climb out of a hole at the top of the cave. Astonished at what he sees, Rowan runs to Lord Summerisle who is waiting for her.

Lord Summerisle explains to Sgt. Howie that he was the fool and that they faked Rowans death. He then walks away as he is thrown to the ground and held still. Lord Summerisle says that the only reason they needed Sgt.

Howie to come to the island is so they could have an adult virgin sacrafice. Sgt. Howie is then stripped of his clothes and prepared for the sacraficial ceremony. Sgt. Howie tells Lord Summerisle that if they kill him, it is he who will rise again and not their good fortune.

This only makes Lord Summerisle more agravaded. Sgt. Howie is pulled up the hill and finally sees the destiny that awaits him. A giant hollowed out wooden man called a "Wicker Man." he is then pickes up and set down inside the Wicker Man.

The townspeople join together in an english folk song called "Summer is Icumen in," as the Wicker Man is set on fire. Sgt. Howie attempts to fight back this ungodly act as he recites Psalm 23, and prays to god for accession to heaven.

The film ends as the Wicker Man falls to the ground and reveals the sunset in the blood red sky. The End.