Anatomy Of A Scene | The Wicker Man (1973)

[@velveetaslingshot]

Im obsessed with this movie. Such a strange film. Strange in that it creates its own genre and delivers an experience never seen before or since. I get why filmmakers want to try and recreate it, but its so hard to catch lightning in a bottle twice.

[@horrorfanandy4647]

It’s a pointless endeavour in my eyes. To filmmakers, take inspiration, but do not attempt to recreate, because even the original films director couldn’t pull that off with the spiritual successor. It’s truly a unique film, all it’s own.

[@notreallydavid]

Secondeded!

[@davidtanycoed]

A phenomenal performance from Edward Woodward. Sadly Christoper Lee always seems to get the main credit in the comments. Don't get me wrong, he certainly pulls off a flawless performance and gives the film gravitas but Woodward truly honours Shaffer's script and Hardy's direction with perfection and most deserved of the credit

[@myles_bennett77]

Great point. Mr. Woodward is most excellent in the film and often overshadowed by Lee.

[@notreallydavid]

It's a wonderful, unshowy performance, in which EW does exactly what"s needed. Another perfectly realised performance that I think of in the same way: Ronnie Barker in Porridge. All best, D.

[@VictheChick]

Tough to be the straight man to *that* performance!

[@masterzombie161]

This movie carries the most epic “What?” In history.

[@davidtanycoed]

🤣😂👍

[@OtisF96]

One of the most disturbing things about the film is when you realise (at the end) that Lord Summerisle knows that the Gods have nothing to do with their crops failing. His frustration as Howie tells the islanders that if the crops fail again they'll have to sacrifice their own Lord is a brilliantly observed piece of acting. Then, seeing Summerisle's face filled with maniacal joy as he watches Howie burn, it all begins to feel very scary, indeed. Excellent video, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to you talk about this marvellous British film.

[@notreallydavid]

I'm alone in this, and lots of better people see it differently, but I've never picked up any feeling that Summerisle doesn't believe it all. It's more likely that I'm wrong than that everyone else is, though - this might be one of my inertness gaps. I have some of those.

[@DavidAGIII]

@@notreallydavid You’re definitely not alone in this, Robin Hardy, Christopher Lee and Edward Woodward talk about it in the commentary they did for the film, you can find it on KZbin in parts. I don’t think he’s pretending to believe either, the only time you see uncertainty in the portrayal of the character is when he’s faced with the possibility that he could be next. This can be interpreted as a dent in his faith but it also could be him worrying about the sacrifice being deemed worthy or any number or things. The grave keeper is the one I question the most, his face when Howie finally screams is subtly one of the most twisted things about the film!

[@notreallydavid]

Thanks D. - great, thoughtful comment. I might hunt down the DVD commentary, and I'll check out the grave keeper"s face! The 'You might be next' moment really is terrific, both in writing and performances - and it stays terrific whether we think Summerisle believes it all or not. WHAT a final reel. My cousin had a static caravan at Burrowhead - time I went for a look round. All best.

[@andyorenzo2449]

@@notreallydavidI just watched this film for the first time- I was not under the impression that he doesn’t believe or IS a conscious conman- I think he believes it- but maybe with some doubt- he HAS to convince himself though.

[@NoneofyourBusiness-iv6pi]

The thing is that the Celts/ Britons wicker men were used to burn criminals to death once a year. They didn't just do it to randomish people. It was a way to get rid of a bunch of criminals at once while dressed up in pagan pagentry

[@glamdolly30]

Great, insightful analysis - thanks! Christopher Lee was astonishing, as always, the man was incapable of turning in less than a brilliant and memorable performance in anything. Wish someone would upload the full movie to YT.

[@OutwardFilmNetwork]

Glad you enjoyed it and we appreciate you watching. We're big fans of Christopher Lee here - hard to disagree with his assertion that The Wicker Man was his best film but, like you say, he could make any role memorable with his distinctive voice and presence.

[@glamdolly30]

@@OutwardFilmNetwork Absolutely! Today I watched 'The Man With the Golden Gun' again, and was reminded what a brilliant Bond villain he was. He had surprisingly little screen time, but totally made the role of Scaramanga his own, investing it with a quiet cruelty, grandiosity and menace that was truly chilling. I was lucky enough to meet Christopher Lee as a BBC producer on 'A BAFTA Tribute to James Bond' in 2002. Like his on screen performances, face to face he did not disappoint! A colossus as an actor and a human being, whose remarkable talent was matched with genuine humility and kindness. Much missed, never forgotten. Thanks for your classy tribute, which I very much enjoyed.

[@joesmith8288]

Excellent analysis.

[@OutwardFilmNetwork]

Thank you, Joe. We appreciate you watching.

[@joesmith8288]

@@OutwardFilmNetwork I never noticed the part where Howie makes Lord Summerisle reflects for a slight moment. Very good observation!

[@ardvarq9027]

Simply put, a movie does not need a moral, and often things happen for no reason. This is not marvel. This is the era before movies became truly medieval. The symbiosis between the pagan and christian here is accurate and beautiful. The author noted that the uncut movie didn't capture the absurdity and humour of the book...ironically it was the edited version that captured it perfectly.

[@notv_internetuser3789]

A horror film tends to be a film with people who glorify murder. The Wicker Man is literally a postmodern horror film that goes against the modernist view of what a horror film is meant to be.

[@ameennasar2583]

Howie is a true hero who does not get justice.The film is horror because of this one single reason. For me, nothing is more horror than the noble hero getting unjust end by selfish lunatics...

[@myles_bennett77]

Yes and it’s quite like life itself where the hero often gets no justice.

[@ardvarq9027]

your answer is fascinating! He got exactly what he wanted. This is a movie with a happy ending.

[@arshil3115]

GOOD

[@paulreuben7343]

Can you show me where Christianity is based on Pagan practices...no guess work please....facts, scholarship....

[@robbieproebstle1314]

As a Christian he may be referring to coopting of pagan concepts. Holidays being held around the solstice, Catholicism being close to worshiping saints (I know that it’s more complicated than that, they are merely asking for a prayer on their behalf). Our practices come from the various pagan religions we have proselytized and pretty much wiped out in Europe. Some are based in judeo tradition no doubt but we also have taken things we’ve liked and brought them into our own practices. In Mexico, Catholicism has taken in their native religions as well creating a witchcraft/Christianity hybrid (not saying it’s right but it exists). If we were to take a secular look at faith, which I don’t ascribe to, faith is a way for us to justify death and to not fear death. Taking that into account, it is obvious various faiths would mimic each other. Take islam and Christianity, put an imam’s sermon and your local pastor’s. Put them side by side and you may have a hard time distinguishing which is which without someone point it out to you. I don’t care about your guesswork statement and frankly I’m not going to study my bible for a KZbin comment for citation. We all know about the obvious Easter and Christmas situation among probably other factors.

[@myles_bennett77]

@@robbieproebstle1314 I think you may have given him or her more of a reply than they bargained for. Very well said.

[@LPCLASSICAL]

Do your own research - there are plenty of reputable sites which detail the way Christianity was cobbled together from previous traditions.

[@paulreuben7343]

@@LPCLASSICAL you're being childish, your arguments have been destroyed long ago, so YOU do some research

[@LPCLASSICAL]

@@paulreuben7343 The central motif of Christianity is the resurrection. What is the resurrection? A human sacrifice intended to appease god so that the sins of mankind can be wiped clean. So the essence of Christianity is based on human sacrifice. There is also so called holy communion - in which believers eat and drink the body and blood of Christ - so it is not only sacrificial - but cannibalistic. Sick - totally sick - far worse than any pagan rituals I am aware of. Sorry my friend - your religion - if you are a Christian - is no more than a barbaric cult and frankly has no good evidence to believe it is anything other than an twisted invention.