One of the most provocative occult thrillers ever made may be the original Wicker Man. The recent remake (with Nick Cage) has been panned almost across 
the board. The 1973 release, however, has become a cult classic (re-released in a special two disc edition in 2006). In fact, several other incarnations of the movie are about to be released. The Wicker Tree, releasing some time this year, follows a similar arc as the original, as does a third film, The Twilight of the Gods, set for an undisclosed date. Apparently, all of the films have to do with the original’s theme: the collision of Christianity and paganism, and the inherent dangers therein.
The original Wicker Man is flat-out disturbing. The film’s nudity (rather scandalous for its time) is really nothing compared to its portrayal of unapologetic, full-frontal, old world paganism. The clash of these two worldviews, combined with the devout, yet rather naive Christianity of the protag, makes this an intriguing cultural artifact for religious adherents of all stripes.
But the question remains: How has The Wicker Man retained such longevity? I mean, the original movie is over 30 years old! Still, it has inspired several remakes and achieved double-DVD collector’s status. This is especially interesting considering the fact that the movie was a low-budget British film marketed to America as a B-grade horror flick. Nevertheless, The Wicker Man is routinely considered as one of the most notable horror movies ever made, with the magazine Total Film even naming it the sixth greatest British film of all time.
There’s two reasons I think The Wicker Man has remained fascinating, if not relevant for contemporary film-goers and believers.
One is the continued rise of paganism. The original film took painstaking care to research and represent ancient pagan practices and rites, including the burning of the Wicker Man effigy at the film’s climax. But whereas paganism was once considered archaic and in decline, a vestige of primitive man’s ignorance and fear, (which made the thriving pagan cult in the original film such an anomaly), it has recently resurfaced with striking vigor. One need only to see James Cameron’s Avatar to realize that pagan concepts are alive and well in the 21st century. The director has been up front about linking his environmental causes with a pantheistic worldview. And if you don’t believe there’s a deeper connection than just ideological, check out this recent pic of James Cameron in tribal make-up, dancing with Amazonian natives. My point here is that the continued rise in paganism — both in loose belief and active practice — has contributed to The Wicker Man‘s relevance.
Secondly, the film’s strength is in its portrayal of the antithetical nature of paganism and Christianity. This is a very important point. Pluralism has forced us into the position of drawing less distinctions between religions. Nowadays, it is not uncommon for people to see once incompatible religions (such as Christianity and paganism) as part of some vast mythological umbrella. Christianity is just one of many ways to god, people regurgitate without thought. In this sense, the film does a number of things that is rather difficult to pull off nowadays — it portrays a distinct difference between paganism and Christianity. A distinction, in fact, that has deadly consequences for one of the parties. Not only does The Wicker Man serve as a warning against spiritual naivete and complacency, it illustrates the stark, very real differences between world religions.
So as much as The Wicker Man is a disturbing film, I can’t help but see its theme as being relevant and infinitely important for Christians to ponder.
Wow, Mike. Thanks for hitting a nerve. A very interesting interview with Robin Hardy, where the interviewer can't see past her own bias, even when she explicitly sides with cold-blooded murderers…http://www.mungbeing.com/issue_13.html?page=67
Wow! Fantastic link, XD. Yes, poor jody seems unashamedly "pro pagan." No wonder she appears heartbroken that in the new work the pagans are "so much more villainous." It's also interesting to know that the director shopped The Wicker man to pastors and churches.
I also had never heard the connection between Howie's speech and the gallows statement of Sir Walter Raleigh, but…knowing the dialog from the movie well, I have, as yet, to find the match. That could be an intriguing rabbit hole.
Another extremely interesting point is that Hardy claims to (and, in fact, I believe does) "play it straight down the middle," letting people draw their own conclusions. What is fascinating is that so many people (well, all of us, if left to our own governance actually), given the choice between naivety, purity and faith and murder, will still, if pressed, pick murder.
Because, you know. Naivety is so uncool and oppressive.
Wicker Man is the spirit of Cain and Abel, and isn't always Cain we feel so bad for? That mean old God rejected his harvest, after all. What else could he do but murder his brother?
Good article.
When I was a theater major in a very liberal college, we were told to write or adapt a play…just make changes, shake it up, so we could get an idea what it’s like. I slightly rewrote the meeting between Howie and Summerisle in which Howie has inadvertently figured out Summerisle’s plan to sacrifice Rowan and so offers the lord of the island an alternative wherein no blood sacrifice is required because The Sacrifice had already been made. It ended with Summerisle weighing his options, then fades to black. Rather naive of me, probably, but given that atmosphere (very pagan-friendly) circa ’93, I just had to do it.
I know of a Christian who watched TWM with me and was highly incensed at the ending because she was convinced Howie “lost.” Not so — he got exactly what Summerisle said he’d get – a martyr’s death – because he was put to death specifically for his Christian faith. Meanwhile, Summerisle knew Howie’s prophecy against him was true…look at Christoper Lee’s brief downcast look when Howie says it, likewise the schoolteacher’s sideways glance at Summerisle as he does so. The pagan sacrifice would surely fail; Howie could only win. Kind of like the actual positive ending of the Exorcist; Catholic slant aside, lots of people viewed it as Fr. Karras losing and the demon victorious. Not so. Same with The Wicker Man (though I do credit the film’s makers for honestly trying to play it down the middle).
Again, good article.
This film will always be important for Christians to see. Well, Christians who aren’t presently going through torture and death for their faith in Jesus. They don’t need a film to remind them of what could happen.