Review of The Wicker Man (1973) by Joe E — 30 May 2009

Terrifying and realistic; there is an incredibly pale look about the entire film, shot convincingly to create the impending aspect of doom. Hardy's version is short - even the directors cut, which is slightly superior in that it gives Woodwards copper a tiny back story explaining his strict religious beliefs and his self destructing superiority complex and affliction to protocol and command - but the film is effective enough and haunting enough to stay with audiences long after the final shot of the sun.

Hardy isn't entirely competent and continuity errors, factual errors etc often disrupt what is an extremely watchable flick. Lee's lord is a wonderful mix of decadent beliefs, dangerous paranoia and fox like slyness but it's Britt Ekland's Willow who terrifies most, personifying the misguided nature of the entire island.