The Wicker Man

1973
R21
1h 28m

IMDb RATING

7.5/10

97K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

Play trailer1:30

Folk Horror Supernatural Horror Horror Mystery Thriller

A puritan police sergeant arrives in a Scottish island village in search of a missing girl, who the pagan locals claim never existed.A puritan police sergeant arrives in a Scottish island village in search of a missing girl, who the pagan locals claim never existed.A puritan police sergeant arrives in a Scottish island village in search of a missing girl, who the pagan locals claim never existed.

Director
- Robin Hardy
Writers
- Anthony Shaffer
- David Pinner
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.5/10

97K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

1,838

237

Director
- Robin Hardy
Writers
- Anthony Shaffer
- David Pinner
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 3 wins & 6 nominations

Videos5

Trailer 1:30

The Wicker Man: The Final Cut

Trailer 2:12

The Wicker Man

Trailer 2:12

The Wicker Man

Trailer 1:30

The Wicker Man - Rialto Pictures Trailer

Clip 2:27

'Midsommar' Trailer With Director's Commentary

Interview 1:48

'Apostle' Director Gareth Evans on the Dark Films That Inspired Him

Photos191

+ 185

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Sir Christopher Lee said that he considers this to be one of his greatest ever roles.

Goofs
Most of the "naked" girls dancing in the stone circle and jumping over the fire are wearing flesh-colored body stockings. (The film was shot in autumn and not in spring as it was set, and thus was very cold.)

Quotes
Lord Summerisle: Do sit down, Sergeant. Shocks are so much better absorbed with the knees bent.

Crazy credits
[Short Version only] A message from the producers thanks "The Lord Summerisle and the people of his island" for co-operating in the making of the film. This is despite both the lord and the island being totally fictitious.

Alternate versions
A dual DVD set in a burnt wooden box was released in 2001 by Anchor Bay. It has the standard 88 (or 87) minute Theatrical Version. It also has a 99 minute Extended Version. This also has the events in chronological order (unlike the 88 min version). Unlike the 95 minute version it does have footage prior to Sgt. Howie's arrival on Summerisle, including him as a Preacher.

Connections
Featured in Scream Greats, Vol. 2: Satanism and Witchcraft (1986)

Soundtracks
Corn Rigs
Written by Paul Giovanni
Performed by Paul Giovanni
[played over the latter half of the opening credits]

User reviews640

Review

Featured review

Involving and intelligent thriller

Years before Edward Woodward gained a measure of fame in the States as TV's Equalizer, he portrayed a dogged police detective poking around a remote Scottish island in search of the truth about a missing girl in Robin Hardy's The Wicker Man. His performance here is easily one of his best -- in order for the unbelievable and unthinkable story to succeed, Woodward must convince us that all of the unnerving events that take place throughout the movie are entirely plausible. He certainly convinced me, and I have never been able to forget the traumatic, harrowing conclusion of the film. Christopher Lee, Britt Ekland, Ingrid Pitt and the rest of the cast provide perfect counterpoint to Woodward's analytical outsider.