The best thing about this film is that the villagers don't think they are doing anything wrong. They aren't punishing Woodward, it's just that they feel obliged to kill him. It's what they have to do, and they do it gladly.
Christopher Lee. Those two simple words say everything I need to know that this film is brilliant. He was a force of nature❤️ Great video, I enjoyed all of this, thank you!
What is intriguing is that, although Christopher Lee said he really like this film, there were outtakes that, had they been included in the film, would have made it even better. Those outtakes have been lost, but there is hope that someday someone might find them so they could be incorporated into the film.
My first viewing too and I love it.Christopher Lee at his best! I didn't consider it horror. Excellent deep dive and well presented podcast too! Thank you!
The videogame 'Kynseed' was influenced by The Wicker Man. A land of joyous pagans, wooden effigies of sacrifice called Woodfellows, and multiple quotes and references to the movie :-)
I know its a bit late me saying this as I only just found your channel. You picked the right year to watch this movie again. This years marks the 50th anniversary of *The Wicker Man* , there have been celebrations throughout this year to commemorate this movie.
Great movie and great review! When I saw this movie I was struck by how strange the inhabitants of the island were... Because here in Argentina there are many small towns, very far away, with very strange people!
I love this movie! I watched it before I watched the remake (thankfully, lol) and its always been a favorite. But I still always think NOOO NOT THE BEES!!!! every time The Wicker Man is mentioned, lol. Lovely video, as usual!
What The Horror, Spooky Astronauts and Drumdums. Horror content perfection. Thank you so much for all you do! I've still somehow never seen the Wickerman. Loved Midsommar though!
You're completely right about howies superiority complex and the morally grey areas. When i first saw the trailer for midsommar I almost jumped out of my seat in excitement that we would get a return to the world of the wicker man. I think that ending must have burned into ari astas mind as it did so many of us, and it felt like midsommar was his tribute and a new wicker man for a new generation of horror fans. I can thoroughly recommend don't look now from the same time period for the same reasons, the ending still has the power to scare the absolute crap out of me as I can honestly say I did not see it coming
One of my favorite characters is the gravedigger played by Aubrey Morris (Mr Deltoid in A Clockwork Orange). His giggle when Sgt. Howie asks where is your minister is hilarious. Also he is very into the sacrifice at the end based on his facial expressions and his dancing. A+ film
Yep, this explains why Midsommar felt so familiar This was one of those horrors I watched as a bored kid back in 2008 but I did watch it again last week and it still holds
I went into this one thinking it was going to be some sort of cannibalistic slasher, but was very pleasantly surprised by the dark comedy it really was.
04:17 "diegetic" Diegetic music or source music is music in a drama that is part of the fictional setting and so is knowingly performed and heard by the characters. I had to look it up! Thank you for NOT talking down to me. 🧐
I remember seeing the wicker man as a kid and it’s still one of my favourite British horrors. I’m sorry I cannot bring myself to watch the remake with Nicholas Cage (the same goes for the Italian Job). Loving these deep dive videos, looking forward to whatever topic you’re going to cover next.
Great video! I finished The Wicker Man yesterday and didn't really like it, but I still appreciate it because it inspired Midsommar which is one of my favorite movies!!! Love your content by the way, I found your channel a few months ago :)!
Really enjoyed your breakdown of the movie and delving into the themes and even behind the scenes stuff. I didn't realize how big a part Christopher Lee played in the making of the film, but I'm happy to know now! Thank you!
I love this film! Midsommar is one of my favs of all time so I watched Wicker Man sometime after. It was fantastic. I didnt know they burned animals, that's horrible!
@@whatthehorror No animals were hurt/killed in 'The Wicker Man',although the occasion did get to the goat in the classic end-burning sequence,as Woodward reminisce that it urinated on him ! 😂😂
It's a classic, psychogical thriller. 1 of Lee's best for sure. Also really cool how the American Metal band Agalloch used samples from it on their White EP which a favorite of mine and many others (although there is no Metal music on the album oddly).
Great analysis. I do love the balance of things in this film, for every pro one side has, a con. And they mirror each other. Both Come off as self assured, yet both show absolute faith in the mode of religion. Congratulations on the subs. I’m glad your hard work is paying off. Have a good week, Miss Sarah.
Thanks so much Ronald. I agree The Wicker Man is a really well balance film and I imagine that is why so many people can enjoy it despite it dealing with faiths.
@@whatthehorror I think because you can root for either. There was a murder committed and the law needs to be served. BUT, these people would die without the death that led to their sacrifice coming and dying for the fertility of the land( at least according to them). The world according to the Atzec’s was shattered when the Spanish stopped their sacrifices. So who can say?
I watched this film as a kid, at the time, to me it was clear the policeman was the bad guy and he had to be "dealt with" for the safety of the islanders. They were just doing their own thing without disturbing anyone. My Grandfather was the only adult that agreed with me. Fun times.
I'd -almost agree, but I have a bad feeling that if Sgt. Howie took his chance to leave the island, the sacrifice would have gone forward with someone else in his place, possibly Roan. The true villain is genuinely held religious faith. It is what allowed the 'pagan' islanders to imagine that unwilling human sacrifice was a good thing permissible to do, and allowed christians to rationalize their extermination of 'pagans' all across the world.
This movie was completely fascinating to me, because aside from killing Howie at the end, no one was necessarily depicted as evil. Quirky, yes, people with sticks up their asses, yes. But just people, and that's not something you really get in horror movies too often. And something about that ending scene where he's being burned alive just--there's something about that scene that feels like a biblical apocalypse in some way. It's kind of like the end of Midnight Mass on Netflix, in a way. Great flick and great breakdown!
The thing that most people miss about this movie is that the paganism of the islanders were not their traditional beliefs. Rather, they were institutionalized by Lord Summerisle’s grandfather, who was a rationalist and industrialist who took advantage of the island’s unique micro-climate to raise his strains of plants. He brought old beliefs in a new form to fool the local populace that his scientific discoveries were “magic”. Despite the fact that the current Lord Summerisle knew this religion was entirely a sham, he was sure of his own supremacy in the society and was happen to commit murder in order to maintain his place atop the island’s social order. Yes, Howie is an extremely unpleasant and judgmental victim, but he is in fact completely innocent. The islanders, meanwhile, are not “free spirits” minding their own business, but mindless upholders of a status quo that had been arbitrarily thrust upon them by a the elite class.
Interesting. I pretty much disagree with everything you've stated, obviously, and it is stated by Somerisle, that paganism was their traditional religion. Somerisle pragmatically gives the viewer, and more pointedly however, an aire of myth, but generally he comes across as being a legitimate practicer of paganism and his belief in the institution. And definitely there is no indication of his own supremacy, I got the impression of the complete opposite, and he knew very much his rôle, and it wasn't anything to do with an interview social superiority. And mindless upholders of a status quo sounds more like the social situation that Howie is from. In fact, the islanders were the opposite, completely divorcing themselves from the status quo, changing their entire lifestyle and belief system in order to change exactly that. Interesting how two people can see the same movie and have completely opposing views :)
@muir8009 I think they are BOTH products of their different cultures, each believing in his own superiority. Howie is dogmatic and judgemental while Summerisle mocks Howie's beliefs and the islanders clearly have fun gaslighting him, flaunting their practices and delighting in his reactions to them.
@@muir8009 the original comment is right, you have to look at the specific gods and traditions referenced throughout the movie. Yes Lord Summerisle did reference “the old gods“ meaning pre-Christian gods, however many of the specific gods and traditions mentioned throughout the movie are not from Scotland. For example, the very first time we see Lord Somerisle he refers to Willow as the incarnation of Aphrodite, yes Aphrodite is one of “the old gods“ but she was not part of the traditional religion of Scotland, she was a Greco-Roman goddess. The beetle tied to the string in the classroom scene is a pre-Islamic pagan tradition from the Middle East, again, one of the “old gods“ but not originating in Scotland. The references to hares throughout the film come from pre-Christian Germanic paganism, again not Scottish. Even the Wicker man itself may or may not be authentic celtic pagan tradition because the only sources about it are Romans, who were trying to spread propaganda about the “barbarians” they encountered in Britannia.
@bebop2523 funny you mention that info. You're very right: tbh, I think that's more where the movie is actually just a movie, not so fussed on who did what or which God was which, more just a what gives the island that old gods feel. I think its easy to read more into the movie than what's actually trying to be presented. And in 1973 the object wasn't trying to create an entire mythos in detail, it was more make a thriller that's different and has a scary wicker man sacrifice. At least it had some pretence of an authentic image; rather than a bunch of bees cult worship thing
SPOILERS ahead: The Sub-Genre that the Wicker Man, Midsommar and movies like The VVitch belong to is considered Folk Horror. And I absolutely love both of these movies that you have dived right into. It's creepy because it's all out in the open. They didn't do much to Sgt. Howie. They let him make his own bed. He was given ample chances to stray away and become a not so prime candidate for sacrifice. Willow tried to save him by offering to have sex with him, but he was just too obsessed with staying pure. Which ended up screwing him in the end of things. If he had agreed to join Willow, well there wouldn't have been the mystery and the guessing game and puzzle of it all. If he had gone back early in his plane to get back up. So many 'if onlys' that could have saved him, but he was just too headstrong about it. He just stuck himself on the platter. And if you watch the Wicker Man as many times as I have.... you notice something new all the time. The same thing goes with Midsommar. If Christian wasn't such a douche, he wouldn't have made himself a prime target for sacrifice. If he had refused to mate with Maya, he might still be alive. So it's a lot of choices that in both movies, no one forced them into. They decided to go their own way despite the warning signs. They just kept running on ahead and we get great movies out of it to enjoy! Great job with this video, I definitely enjoyed it! Thank you!
Re: Midsommar - Christian was a douche, that's certain. I wonder how much we as the audience are seduced by our sympathy for Dani and the welcome and support she gets from the community that we see past the fact that he's actually a victim? He was the shittiest boyfriend, but did he actually deserve to be drugged and murdered? Or are we, like Dani, being messed with by the community so that we can accept his fate? Would we be OK with an unfaithful selfish boyfriend being burned alive in real life?
Don’t forget Christian(the cult sacrifices an actual christian lol) was drugged and therefor couldn’t consent to having sex. Everyone else was killed too so the dichotomy between a happy community and murderers is a very unsettling thought. The part that fxcked with me the most, is that christian was literally being fried inside of the bear suit by the boiling bear fat. Dani is absolutely a victim as the smile at the end conveys she has been brainwashed.
I have to disagree on the point that both Summerisle and Hälsingland feel idyllic and beautiful at first. That's certainly true for Summerisle, right up until the moment of the big reveal. But Hälsingland just screams "cult" as soon as you enter the village. The white uniforms, the placid expressions, the blank stares as everyone moves in perfect sync, the too-cleanness of the whole place. It immediately brings to mind Jonestown or Heaven's Gate. I think that's one area where Midsommar falls short of The Wicker Man, because while the setting is beautiful, it still looks like a place where some dark shit could go down at any minute, so we're all just waiting on the other shoe to drop.
it was intentional tho. i dont see why it falls short of wicker man in that aspect. the viewer is screaming “just leave” the entire time and it makes the whole of the movie very unsettling. I loved all the hints and clues that some people/peoples were going to die lol the scariest part of the movie for me was the fact they took their orders from the scribblings of an inbred troglodyte lmao just creepy as they’re at the mercy of a clearly unwell individual
No the animals were not in there being burned! That is a lie that Britt spread around years later because she was called out by the cast and people for her absolutely horrible behavior during filming (demanding a heated limo be available for her only during all her scenes for one example). Also, Howie MUST ascent freely to every “scene” he encounters with the people of Summerisle. This is a crucial traditional history of dealing with the fae or the Otherworld - agreeing, making pacts, etc is a must so the idea that he is merely forced is a misreading. He must go willingly. If for example he had lost his virginity with Willow he would not have been sacrificed.
One of the "Big Three" of folk horror, the others being Witchfinder General and Blood on Satan's Claw, I'd argue this is the deepest and most complex of the three movies. I totally agree there is no black and white, no clearly defined "bad guy". I even wonder, what if the islanders are correct? What if their religious beliefs are actually based on something that works? After all, it's the pagans that triumph in the end, Sergeant Howie's Christian God is nowhere to be seen. When Howie dies, his own desperate hymns and prayers are easily drowned out by a triumphant chorus of "Summer is a Coming In", showing who is really in charge of Sommerisle.
i think part of the horror is that both religions are nothing more than faith. i dont think the sacrifice has any affect on the crops at all. that makes it even scarier.
Some of the best PHYCOLOGICAL THRILLERS, ever made are NOT horror films, such as - PHYCO, THE OMEN, WHICKER MAN & DON'T LOOK NOW (Which was released as a double bill with Whicker man, at the time in 1973) Good & evil I wouldnt say that was ever the point of the film, what is most eery is that to the Pagan Islanders, they are doing nothing wrong, & celebrating their religious philosophies. I particularly like the ending scene where the police man looks to the people for suport thinking they can't believe in this but they are entranced none of them are doubting it, except ironically Summerisle himself (who fears that if he doesnt continue the tradition they will turn on him & lynch him)
Midsommar is kind of a pale imitation of Wicker Man (1973). Wicker Man gave its 'pagans' their own historically rooted beliefs and gave them 'equal footing' of having their belief system justified by the mirror image unshakeable faith as the christian character. Meanwhile, the 'pagans' of Midsommar follow the finger-paintings of the mentally handicapped, they practice ritualized 'euthanasia' that is completely concocted, they aren't presented as having any historical or philosophical or theological legitimacy. Midsommar is pretty plainly intended as christian propaganda, the male lead is literally named Christian and the movie is about how he has gone off to college and lost his way in the 'secularism' and 'moral relativism', and therefore falls prey to a cartoonishly evil cult. The movie's crux is when the cultist college guy asks Christian's girlfriend if she feels held by him, and she cannot muster any affirmation, Christian has lost his way, lost her loyalty, and therefore loses his life. Midsommar is a visually gorgeous movie, it is well made and a good enjoyable horror movie, it simply suffers in comparison to one of the best horror films ever made.
Sorry, but Midsommar is in no way christian propaganda.. He is unable to give Dani enough support and she doesn‘t feel held because he is a douche. He forgot her birthday for example. Her trauma and the lack of her community to hold her leads into her descent into the cult and into madness. Also the movie also makes you kind of like the cult and makes you root for Dani to kill her bf because he is a douche. Very similar to Wicker Man where you have to ask yourself on which side you are on.. I like both films.
@@NoisyHill_ I think Midsommar is christian propaganda because the intent seems to be to have the (presumed american christian) audience understand that christianity is what the protagonists lacked that led to the bad outcome. Christian failed in upholding their virtue of being the strong christian head-of-the-household type man. It is also christian propaganda in that 'paganism' and 'euthanasia' and 'academia' and other targets are cartoonized and villainized in ways that flatter christianity. For example the cult is concocted to be incestuous and needing rejuvenation from the 'intervention' of christians. I rewatched both films in a double header with some friends recently, we had a lot to discuss afterwards!
although the religions are presented as different beliefs, it paints the pagans as villains for sure. they may have been happy to explain and share. but as a ploy to mislead and lie. and even with hubris, howie is honest. he hasn't created a ruse to bring them to his turf only to preach his faith and inevitably condemn them. because they do in fact condemn him spiritually and physically.
Oh by the ending they are 100% the villains as we learn this was always their intention they were always the villains. But they're not always portrayed as that through the film.
The 1970s were far more overtly racist, sexist, homophobic, and cruel toward animals. Millennials lack historical perspective beyond the present. People were smoking inside, women were getting cat-called on the street AND the workplace, and fist fights were a common way to 'settle the score.' I hate animal abuse, but it's absurd to critique it as what you hated about the film without considering the time period. That said, this was also my first time seeing The Wicker Man, and I loved the movie.
I watched this film for the first time on Halloween. I am a Roman Catholic who recently converted from Atheism with a soft belief in Paganism and Christianity, I grew up in a non traditional household and far from Christian moral teachings more most of my life so I until recently was more well versed in Pagan concepts. Maybe it’s the fire of belief, but I could not for a moment see anything wrong with the sergeants actions or attitudes toward the people of Summer Isle. In my experience with non-traditional nature worship and this felt very coded within the film, through my perspective, there’s this great sense of insidiousness in regards to sexuality dressed as “free love”. Lord Summer Isle just happens to have a front row seat to naked children fire walking in the hopes of being impregnated by a God, a fulfillment usually carried out by High Priests (Summer Isle) the old men of the Inn make familiar remarks about young women old enough to be their granddaughters, I don’t trust these people for a second around the kids. “And on that bed there was a GIRL and on the GIRL there was a MAN” why not woman? I denied nature worship because often the practitioners are strong Anti-Christs, more often than not they partake in sexual abuse. ESPECIALLY if they’re strong enough in their convictions to practice ritual animal and human sacrifice. The whole island ought to be nuked from orbit. I’m aware my new faith has problems with sexual abuse scandals, and I will not defend those, among the lay people of the faith, the gross abuse of children is not tolerated or celebrated but mourned. In every pagan circle I’ve encountered there is no concept of accountability or protection of innocents. It’s all about self gratification whereas Christianity I find self sacrifice. Howie have his life for a girl he never knew. The islanders murdered to enrich their harvest. Great film, bone chilling, I used to be a pagan, and now I detest them. This film illustrates why in such a perfect way.
Did not remember about the animals in the film. Not OK in my opinion. The 70's were different, gore, sex and nudity as normal in most horror films. And we better don't start with the "mondo" documentaries or films like "Cannibal Holocaust". Sometimes a bit too much but better than actual "censorship".
@@whatthehorror Absolutely agree about the animal "mistreatment". I avoid even fictional animal abuse like the plague. I don't watch nature documentaries because of the hunting, give me slasher films instead.
No animals were harmed or killed during filming. Even before filming the wicker man scenes, word had got out that animals were going to be burned, and the locals kicked up hell. Needless to say, that was never the intention, and there were specialist animal handlers on the set whose job it is to make sure they are safe (yes, even in the 1970s!). It's a testament to the realism of the filmmaking that you genuinely believed the animals were near any flames or were actually crying in distress. They weren't.
@@jdh6752" It's a testament to the realism of the filmmaking that you genuinely believed the animals were near any flames or were actually crying in distress." I never said that I "genuinely believed" any of that. You have probably misread my comment. There are opposite statements about the death of animals during the film. There is confirmation of animal distress. -"Britt Ekland, is recorded as saying that some animals were killed during the production" A comment about a Wiki article I can't access, the host produces an error. -The director is quoted saying that "great care was taken to ensure that the animals were in no danger of being hurt during this scene" and that "fires were built in front of the animals to make sure they were not hurt". -In the documentary "The Wicker Man Enigma" (available here in YT) someone says that a goat was very frightened, due to that was constantly peeing and Woodward was right underneath the goat so he suffered there. Care to share your source that denies any distress suffered by the animals during the production of the film?
No other movie has given us an ending in which the inquisitor is burned by the witches
EXCELLENT POINT❤️
The best thing about this film is that the villagers don't think they are doing anything wrong. They aren't punishing Woodward, it's just that they feel obliged to kill him. It's what they have to do, and they do it gladly.
Christopher Lee. Those two simple words say everything I need to know that this film is brilliant. He was a force of nature❤️
Great video, I enjoyed all of this, thank you!
What is intriguing is that, although Christopher Lee said he really like this film, there were outtakes that, had they been included in the film, would have made it even better. Those outtakes have been lost, but there is hope that someday someone might find them so they could be incorporated into the film.
Willows Song Is An Absolutely Splendid/Vintage Classic Indeed...
I would have failed that test the first night and go home happy.
I was thinking had the guy just gave into his carnel desires he would’ve loved lol
if he slept with her he would no longer be a virgin and no use to them
My first viewing too and I love it.Christopher Lee at his best! I didn't consider it horror. Excellent deep dive and well presented podcast too! Thank you!
Excellent exposition.
The videogame 'Kynseed' was influenced by The Wicker Man. A land of joyous pagans, wooden effigies of sacrifice called Woodfellows, and multiple quotes and references to the movie :-)
I know its a bit late me saying this as I only just found your channel. You picked the right year to watch this movie again. This years marks the 50th anniversary of *The Wicker Man* , there have been celebrations throughout this year to commemorate this movie.
oh that's cool
Great movie and great review! When I saw this movie I was struck by how strange the inhabitants of the island were... Because here in Argentina there are many small towns, very far away, with very strange people!
I love this movie! I watched it before I watched the remake (thankfully, lol) and its always been a favorite. But I still always think NOOO NOT THE BEES!!!! every time The Wicker Man is mentioned, lol. Lovely video, as usual!
Lol, poor Nic Cage. Forever tied to that line. Glad to hear of someone else who loves the wicker man. I'm totally new to it but I just love it
What The Horror, Spooky Astronauts and Drumdums. Horror content perfection. Thank you so much for all you do! I've still somehow never seen the Wickerman. Loved Midsommar though!
Wow, thanks for such a lovely comment. And for putting me in with some big names.
Thanks for a new word - diegetic & an excellent analysis.
You're completely right about howies superiority complex and the morally grey areas. When i first saw the trailer for midsommar I almost jumped out of my seat in excitement that we would get a return to the world of the wicker man. I think that ending must have burned into ari astas mind as it did so many of us, and it felt like midsommar was his tribute and a new wicker man for a new generation of horror fans. I can thoroughly recommend don't look now from the same time period for the same reasons, the ending still has the power to scare the absolute crap out of me as I can honestly say I did not see it coming
I've heard of Don't Look Now and I've seen the reveal at the end but I've never watched it all. It's on my list though
One of my favorite characters is the gravedigger played by Aubrey Morris (Mr Deltoid in A Clockwork Orange). His giggle when Sgt. Howie asks where is your minister is hilarious. Also he is very into the sacrifice at the end based on his facial expressions and his dancing. A+ film
I love this episode. I especially enjoy the way you break down both sets of beliefs.
I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Congratulations on the 17K subscribers sis!👍
It’s nice to listen to another horror fan, and the accent helps.
Yep, this explains why Midsommar felt so familiar
This was one of those horrors I watched as a bored kid back in 2008 but I did watch it again last week and it still holds
Also- many congrats on the 17k subs, you have a really great unique channel and I can easily see you breaking 20k by the end of the year
Thank you so much!
Congrats on 17 000 subs. A well-deserved milestone !
I went into this one thinking it was going to be some sort of cannibalistic slasher, but was very pleasantly surprised by the dark comedy it really was.
04:17 "diegetic"
Diegetic music or source music is music in a drama that is part of the fictional setting and so is knowingly performed and heard by the characters.
I had to look it up! Thank you for NOT talking down to me. 🧐
This was an amazing review. Perfectly dissected.
thank you
I remember seeing the wicker man as a kid and it’s still one of my favourite British horrors. I’m sorry I cannot bring myself to watch the remake with Nicholas Cage (the same goes for the Italian Job).
Loving these deep dive videos, looking forward to whatever topic you’re going to cover next.
Thanks, I'm glad you're enjoying them.
I've only just discovered The Wicker Man but it's already a favourite
Loving this podcast/video etc subscriber - love the disection of movies and you do this very well
Excellent summary and review of one of my favourite movies
Ohhh now I’ve got to watch this film, thanks for the review/analysis
@abeham1078 Did you watch it?
Actually picked this up the other day randomly looked cool. Really enjoyed it for an older film !!
What a coincidence, I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Great video! I finished The Wicker Man yesterday and didn't really like it, but I still appreciate it because it inspired Midsommar which is one of my favorite movies!!! Love your content by the way, I found your channel a few months ago :)!
Really enjoyed your breakdown of the movie and delving into the themes and even behind the scenes stuff. I didn't realize how big a part Christopher Lee played in the making of the film, but I'm happy to know now! Thank you!
One of the best films ever made, horror or otherwise. I hope everyone can forget that travesty of a remake with Nicholas Cage.
I love this film! Midsommar is one of my favs of all time so I watched Wicker Man sometime after. It was fantastic. I didnt know they burned animals, that's horrible!
It's a good one to check out if you like Midsommar and vice versa. I know, it's not great but it's hard to get concrete info on what happened.
@@whatthehorror No animals were hurt/killed in 'The Wicker Man',although the occasion did get to the goat in the classic end-burning sequence,as Woodward reminisce that it urinated on him ! 😂😂
i love how this movie lulls you into a false sense of security then before you know it, a man is being burned alive and nobody bats an eye
What a lovely channel
Aw thank you
It's a classic, psychogical thriller. 1 of Lee's best for sure.
Also really cool how the American Metal band Agalloch used samples from it on their White EP which a favorite of mine and many others (although there is no Metal music on the album oddly).
NO NOT THE BEES AHHHHH
... wrong Wickerman, dude
@@mattyedane2805 I know but that one is funny
Is that a shark in your bag or are you just happy to see me?
This is definitely better than the remake. I regret that America is responsible for that.
I went on the ride then watched the movie presently surprised with the musical aspect
I'm so happy you talk about the musical aspect of the film. My main thought after seeing it was "Why hasn't anyone mentioned it's a musical?!"
It really surprised me how much of a musical it is! But I love it!
"You can't land here without written permission".
Great analysis. I do love the balance of things in this film, for every pro one side has, a con. And they mirror each other. Both Come off as self assured, yet both show absolute faith in the mode of religion.
Congratulations on the subs. I’m glad your hard work is paying off. Have a good week, Miss Sarah.
Thanks so much Ronald.
I agree The Wicker Man is a really well balance film and I imagine that is why so many people can enjoy it despite it dealing with faiths.
@@whatthehorror I think because you can root for either. There was a murder committed and the law needs to be served. BUT, these people would die without the death that led to their sacrifice coming and dying for the fertility of the land( at least according to them).
The world according to the Atzec’s was shattered when the Spanish stopped their sacrifices. So who can say?
I watched this film as a kid, at the time, to me it was clear the policeman was the bad guy and he had to be "dealt with" for the safety of the islanders. They were just doing their own thing without disturbing anyone. My Grandfather was the only adult that agreed with me.
Fun times.
I'd -almost agree, but I have a bad feeling that if Sgt. Howie took his chance to leave the island, the sacrifice would have gone forward with someone else in his place, possibly Roan.
The true villain is genuinely held religious faith. It is what allowed the 'pagan' islanders to imagine that unwilling human sacrifice was a good thing permissible to do, and allowed christians to rationalize their extermination of 'pagans' all across the world.
Brilliant analysis of a classic film. Great cast also.
OH, NO, NOT THE BEES! NOT THE BEES! AAAAAHHHHH! OH, THEY'RE IN MY EYES! MY EYES! AAAAHHHHH! AAAAAGGHHH!
Great video!
This movie was completely fascinating to me, because aside from killing Howie at the end, no one was necessarily depicted as evil. Quirky, yes, people with sticks up their asses, yes. But just people, and that's not something you really get in horror movies too often. And something about that ending scene where he's being burned alive just--there's something about that scene that feels like a biblical apocalypse in some way. It's kind of like the end of Midnight Mass on Netflix, in a way. Great flick and great breakdown!
Edgar wrights crime thriller comedy horror film Hot Fuzz is heavily inspired by the wicker man they even used Edward Woodward to play the Doctor.
no shxt?! i honestly think thats his best movie
Awesome! Thanks!
The thing that most people miss about this movie is that the paganism of the islanders were not their traditional beliefs. Rather, they were institutionalized by Lord Summerisle’s grandfather, who was a rationalist and industrialist who took advantage of the island’s unique micro-climate to raise his strains of plants. He brought old beliefs in a new form to fool the local populace that his scientific discoveries were “magic”. Despite the fact that the current Lord Summerisle knew this religion was entirely a sham, he was sure of his own supremacy in the society and was happen to commit murder in order to maintain his place atop the island’s social order. Yes, Howie is an extremely unpleasant and judgmental victim, but he is in fact completely innocent. The islanders, meanwhile, are not “free spirits” minding their own business, but mindless upholders of a status quo that had been arbitrarily thrust upon them by a the elite class.
Interesting. I pretty much disagree with everything you've stated, obviously, and it is stated by Somerisle, that paganism was their traditional religion.
Somerisle pragmatically gives the viewer, and more pointedly however, an aire of myth, but generally he comes across as being a legitimate practicer of paganism and his belief in the institution.
And definitely there is no indication of his own supremacy, I got the impression of the complete opposite, and he knew very much his rôle, and it wasn't anything to do with an interview social superiority.
And mindless upholders of a status quo sounds more like the social situation that Howie is from.
In fact, the islanders were the opposite, completely divorcing themselves from the status quo, changing their entire lifestyle and belief system in order to change exactly that.
Interesting how two people can see the same movie and have completely opposing views :)
@muir8009 I think they are BOTH products of their different cultures, each believing in his own superiority. Howie is dogmatic and judgemental while Summerisle mocks Howie's beliefs and the islanders clearly have fun gaslighting him, flaunting their practices and delighting in his reactions to them.
@@muir8009 the original comment is right, you have to look at the specific gods and traditions referenced throughout the movie. Yes Lord Summerisle did reference “the old gods“ meaning pre-Christian gods, however many of the specific gods and traditions mentioned throughout the movie are not from Scotland. For example, the very first time we see Lord Somerisle he refers to Willow as the incarnation of Aphrodite, yes Aphrodite is one of “the old gods“ but she was not part of the traditional religion of Scotland, she was a Greco-Roman goddess. The beetle tied to the string in the classroom scene is a pre-Islamic pagan tradition from the Middle East, again, one of the “old gods“ but not originating in Scotland. The references to hares throughout the film come from pre-Christian Germanic paganism, again not Scottish. Even the Wicker man itself may or may not be authentic celtic pagan tradition because the only sources about it are Romans, who were trying to spread propaganda about the “barbarians” they encountered in Britannia.
@bebop2523 funny you mention that info. You're very right: tbh, I think that's more where the movie is actually just a movie, not so fussed on who did what or which God was which, more just a what gives the island that old gods feel.
I think its easy to read more into the movie than what's actually trying to be presented. And in 1973 the object wasn't trying to create an entire mythos in detail, it was more make a thriller that's different and has a scary wicker man sacrifice.
At least it had some pretence of an authentic image; rather than a bunch of bees cult worship thing
Love the movie.
An amazing horror movie and one of my favourite classic movies from the uk
SPOILERS ahead:
The Sub-Genre that the Wicker Man, Midsommar and movies like The VVitch belong to is considered Folk Horror. And I absolutely love both of these movies that you have dived right into. It's creepy because it's all out in the open. They didn't do much to Sgt. Howie. They let him make his own bed. He was given ample chances to stray away and become a not so prime candidate for sacrifice. Willow tried to save him by offering to have sex with him, but he was just too obsessed with staying pure. Which ended up screwing him in the end of things. If he had agreed to join Willow, well there wouldn't have been the mystery and the guessing game and puzzle of it all. If he had gone back early in his plane to get back up. So many 'if onlys' that could have saved him, but he was just too headstrong about it. He just stuck himself on the platter. And if you watch the Wicker Man as many times as I have.... you notice something new all the time.
The same thing goes with Midsommar. If Christian wasn't such a douche, he wouldn't have made himself a prime target for sacrifice. If he had refused to mate with Maya, he might still be alive. So it's a lot of choices that in both movies, no one forced them into. They decided to go their own way despite the warning signs. They just kept running on ahead and we get great movies out of it to enjoy! Great job with this video, I definitely enjoyed it! Thank you!
Re: Midsommar - Christian was a douche, that's certain. I wonder how much we as the audience are seduced by our sympathy for Dani and the welcome and support she gets from the community that we see past the fact that he's actually a victim? He was the shittiest boyfriend, but did he actually deserve to be drugged and murdered? Or are we, like Dani, being messed with by the community so that we can accept his fate? Would we be OK with an unfaithful selfish boyfriend being burned alive in real life?
Don’t forget Christian(the cult sacrifices an actual christian lol) was drugged and therefor couldn’t consent to having sex. Everyone else was killed too so the dichotomy between a happy community and murderers is a very unsettling thought. The part that fxcked with me the most, is that christian was literally being fried inside of the bear suit by the boiling bear fat. Dani is absolutely a victim as the smile at the end conveys she has been brainwashed.
I have to disagree on the point that both Summerisle and Hälsingland feel idyllic and beautiful at first. That's certainly true for Summerisle, right up until the moment of the big reveal. But Hälsingland just screams "cult" as soon as you enter the village. The white uniforms, the placid expressions, the blank stares as everyone moves in perfect sync, the too-cleanness of the whole place. It immediately brings to mind Jonestown or Heaven's Gate. I think that's one area where Midsommar falls short of The Wicker Man, because while the setting is beautiful, it still looks like a place where some dark shit could go down at any minute, so we're all just waiting on the other shoe to drop.
it was intentional tho. i dont see why it falls short of wicker man in that aspect. the viewer is screaming “just leave” the entire time and it makes the whole of the movie very unsettling. I loved all the hints and clues that some people/peoples were going to die lol the scariest part of the movie for me was the fact they took their orders from the scribblings of an inbred troglodyte lmao just creepy as they’re at the mercy of a clearly unwell individual
A great representation of our English natural religion.
Mate, it's not English natural religion. You can find these practices across Europe.
@@theunorthodox828 I think he's saying that it's the English traditional religion, not that it's exclusively English
No the animals were not in there being burned! That is a lie that Britt spread around years later because she was called out by the cast and people for her absolutely horrible behavior during filming (demanding a heated limo be available for her only during all her scenes for one example). Also, Howie MUST ascent freely to every “scene” he encounters with the people of Summerisle. This is a crucial traditional history of dealing with the fae or the Otherworld - agreeing, making pacts, etc is a must so the idea that he is merely forced is a misreading. He must go willingly. If for example he had lost his virginity with Willow he would not have been sacrificed.
"Burning Man" (the temporary artist community)?
Have you seen Robin Redbreast (1970)? A big influence on The Wicker Man and better imo!
I love The Wicker Man but Midsommar is better for me
One of the "Big Three" of folk horror, the others being Witchfinder General and Blood on Satan's Claw, I'd argue this is the deepest and most complex of the three movies. I totally agree there is no black and white, no clearly defined "bad guy". I even wonder, what if the islanders are correct? What if their religious beliefs are actually based on something that works? After all, it's the pagans that triumph in the end, Sergeant Howie's Christian God is nowhere to be seen. When Howie dies, his own desperate hymns and prayers are easily drowned out by a triumphant chorus of "Summer is a Coming In", showing who is really in charge of Sommerisle.
i think part of the horror is that both religions are nothing more than faith. i dont think the sacrifice has any affect on the crops at all. that makes it even scarier.
Iv4 Seen The Film Twice...
This was a classic and the remade US version was not even close to being any good.
Some of the best PHYCOLOGICAL THRILLERS, ever made are NOT horror films,
such as - PHYCO, THE OMEN, WHICKER MAN & DON'T LOOK NOW (Which was released as a double bill with Whicker man, at the time in 1973)
Good & evil I wouldnt say that was ever the point of the film, what is most eery is that to the Pagan Islanders, they are doing nothing wrong, & celebrating their religious philosophies.
I particularly like the ending scene where the police man looks to the people for suport thinking they can't believe in this but they are entranced none of them are doubting it, except ironically Summerisle himself (who fears that if he doesnt continue the tradition they will turn on him & lynch him)
Why dont you do a fire dance to market yourself or the film.
Midsommar is kind of a pale imitation of Wicker Man (1973). Wicker Man gave its 'pagans' their own historically rooted beliefs and gave them 'equal footing' of having their belief system justified by the mirror image unshakeable faith as the christian character. Meanwhile, the 'pagans' of Midsommar follow the finger-paintings of the mentally handicapped, they practice ritualized 'euthanasia' that is completely concocted, they aren't presented as having any historical or philosophical or theological legitimacy.
Midsommar is pretty plainly intended as christian propaganda, the male lead is literally named Christian and the movie is about how he has gone off to college and lost his way in the 'secularism' and 'moral relativism', and therefore falls prey to a cartoonishly evil cult. The movie's crux is when the cultist college guy asks Christian's girlfriend if she feels held by him, and she cannot muster any affirmation, Christian has lost his way, lost her loyalty, and therefore loses his life.
Midsommar is a visually gorgeous movie, it is well made and a good enjoyable horror movie, it simply suffers in comparison to one of the best horror films ever made.
Sorry, but Midsommar is in no way christian propaganda..
He is unable to give Dani enough support and she doesn‘t feel held because he is a douche. He forgot her birthday for example. Her trauma and the lack of her community to hold her leads into her descent into the cult and into madness.
Also the movie also makes you kind of like the cult and makes you root for Dani to kill her bf because he is a douche. Very similar to Wicker Man where you have to ask yourself on which side you are on..
I like both films.
@@NoisyHill_ I think Midsommar is christian propaganda because the intent seems to be to have the (presumed american christian) audience understand that christianity is what the protagonists lacked that led to the bad outcome. Christian failed in upholding their virtue of being the strong christian head-of-the-household type man.
It is also christian propaganda in that 'paganism' and 'euthanasia' and 'academia' and other targets are cartoonized and villainized in ways that flatter christianity. For example the cult is concocted to be incestuous and needing rejuvenation from the 'intervention' of christians.
I rewatched both films in a double header with some friends recently, we had a lot to discuss afterwards!
although the religions are presented as different beliefs, it paints the pagans as villains for sure. they may have been happy to explain and share. but as a ploy to mislead and lie. and even with hubris, howie is honest. he hasn't created a ruse to bring them to his turf only to preach his faith and inevitably condemn them. because they do in fact condemn him spiritually and physically.
Oh by the ending they are 100% the villains as we learn this was always their intention they were always the villains. But they're not always portrayed as that through the film.
Old Is Better...
The 1970s were far more overtly racist, sexist, homophobic, and cruel toward animals. Millennials lack historical perspective beyond the present. People were smoking inside, women were getting cat-called on the street AND the workplace, and fist fights were a common way to 'settle the score.' I hate animal abuse, but it's absurd to critique it as what you hated about the film without considering the time period. That said, this was also my first time seeing The Wicker Man, and I loved the movie.
"Influenced" "Midsommar." You mean it's the movie they ripped off wholesale.
Well yeah ... but I was being subtle 🙂
I liked the scene where Howie eats the disgusting canned meal, which looks probably about average for British food circa 1973.
Christianity was in decline since the 70s
I watched this film for the first time on Halloween. I am a Roman Catholic who recently converted from Atheism with a soft belief in Paganism and Christianity, I grew up in a non traditional household and far from Christian moral teachings more most of my life so I until recently was more well versed in Pagan concepts.
Maybe it’s the fire of belief, but I could not for a moment see anything wrong with the sergeants actions or attitudes toward the people of Summer Isle. In my experience with non-traditional nature worship and this felt very coded within the film, through my perspective, there’s this great sense of insidiousness in regards to sexuality dressed as “free love”. Lord Summer Isle just happens to have a front row seat to naked children fire walking in the hopes of being impregnated by a God, a fulfillment usually carried out by High Priests (Summer Isle) the old men of the Inn make familiar remarks about young women old enough to be their granddaughters, I don’t trust these people for a second around the kids.
“And on that bed there was a GIRL and on the GIRL there was a MAN” why not woman? I denied nature worship because often the practitioners are strong Anti-Christs, more often than not they partake in sexual abuse. ESPECIALLY if they’re strong enough in their convictions to practice ritual animal and human sacrifice. The whole island ought to be nuked from orbit.
I’m aware my new faith has problems with sexual abuse scandals, and I will not defend those, among the lay people of the faith, the gross abuse of children is not tolerated or celebrated but mourned. In every pagan circle I’ve encountered there is no concept of accountability or protection of innocents. It’s all about self gratification whereas Christianity I find self sacrifice. Howie have his life for a girl he never knew. The islanders murdered to enrich their harvest.
Great film, bone chilling, I used to be a pagan, and now I detest them. This film illustrates why in such a perfect way.
Did not remember about the animals in the film. Not OK in my opinion.
The 70's were different, gore, sex and nudity as normal in most horror films. And we better don't start with the "mondo" documentaries or films like "Cannibal Holocaust".
Sometimes a bit too much but better than actual "censorship".
Yeah just a different time. But it's just not OK... in my opinion.
@@whatthehorror Absolutely agree about the animal "mistreatment". I avoid even fictional animal abuse like the plague. I don't watch nature documentaries because of the hunting, give me slasher films instead.
No animals were harmed or killed during filming. Even before filming the wicker man scenes, word had got out that animals were going to be burned, and the locals kicked up hell. Needless to say, that was never the intention, and there were specialist animal handlers on the set whose job it is to make sure they are safe (yes, even in the 1970s!). It's a testament to the realism of the filmmaking that you genuinely believed the animals were near any flames or were actually crying in distress. They weren't.
@@jdh6752" It's a testament to the realism of the filmmaking that you genuinely believed the animals were near any flames or were actually crying in distress."
I never said that I "genuinely believed" any of that. You have probably misread my comment.
There are opposite statements about the death of animals during the film. There is confirmation of animal distress.
-"Britt Ekland, is recorded as saying that some animals were killed during the production" A comment about a Wiki article I can't access, the host produces an error.
-The director is quoted saying that "great care was taken to ensure that the animals were in no danger of being hurt during this scene" and that "fires were built in front of the animals to make sure they were not hurt".
-In the documentary "The Wicker Man Enigma" (available here in YT) someone says that a goat was very frightened, due to that was constantly peeing and Woodward was right underneath the goat so he suffered there.
Care to share your source that denies any distress suffered by the animals during the production of the film?