MovieChat Forums > The Wicker Man (1974) Discussion > Absolutely haunting.

Absolutely haunting.

posted 9 years ago by nightshade071
16 replies | jump to latest

The first time I watched this I was probably twelve or thirteen years old. This remains one of the bleakest movie-watching experiences in memory, almost to the point I couldn't enjoy it... but I sat through (being a long-time fan of Mr. Christopher Lee) and ultimately, I'm glad I did.

As I said, it's bleak and dark while being totally hypnotic. Like driving past a car wreck with fresh blood smears on the road, you're horrified but you just can't look away. Lurking beneath the murky surface is a sense of doom. The ending is disturbing in a way I have not seen before or since.

I would not call this a horror film - at least, not in the traditional sense of the word. I'm not even sure if it can be probably categorized in one genre or another, and maybe it doesn't need to be. And let me clarify one thing: make no mistake, this is not a fun movie. It's not the thing you pop in when you're bored and looking to absentmindedly waste away an hour and forty minutes. The Wicker Man takes you by the throat with an icy grip and doesn't let go until long after the credits are over, if ever. It will remain with you for a very long time.

For a deeply disturbing and haunting experience, do yourself a favor and watch THE WICKER MAN.

[–] kurt7825 9 years ago

it is different than anything i've seen. i loved it

[–] Romojo 9 years ago

Totally agree. I had seen it already but left two friends watching it while I went out. One of them was a first-timer, and couldn't believe Edward Woodward is left to burn in the 'wicker man' itself. I think even now people are used to things sorting themselves out. Karma, etc. In real life, that's not always the case.

Thanks for comment Nightshade!

'Be yourself' is about the worst advice you can give to some people.
- J B Priestley

[–] number9-4 9 years ago

It's not the thing you pop in when you're bored and looking to absentmindedly waste away an hour and forty minutes.

This is my favorite movie, but even so, I can only bring myself to watch it maybe a couple of times a year because it is indeed so disturbing. Sometimes I almost don't want to watch the ending, but I know that's part of the whole experience.

As another poster said, you're used to thinking justice will be served, but just as it doesn't always work out in real life, it doesn't in this film. And that reminder is perhaps why it's such a disturbing film. Howie wasn't just a random person targeted by a serial killer, like in many horror movies: He was actively trying to help someone he believed was innocent, only to be betrayed and murdered by her and her entire community. That's hard to watch.

[–] orangeandyellow 9 years ago

i liked the film. i found it disturbing at the end but i was not scared. i really just saw it as an alternative way of life to our judo-christian way.

[–] threehundreddogs 9 years ago

i thought it was great too. i just watched it and i am surprised by just how unnerving i found the ending. also, i thought the visuals were glorious. just great. i love the costumes and the setting. those animal masks were too cool. i didnt expect the ending. the premise isnt horribly original, but ive never seen anything like the ending. its simple, its clever and i thought the foreshadowing was wonderful. very good stuff.

[–] ElectricWarlock 9 years ago

Yes, I saw it around five years ago and have wanted to watch it again ever since but for some reason never got around to it until today. It was just as good as I remember it being.

[–] sillyspaghetti 9 years ago

I agree that it is haunting and disturbing. Plays out like a nightmare. Tigon made some messed up films!!! Lol.

[–] The_White_Hotel 9 years ago

This isn't a Tigon film.

[–] sillyspaghetti 9 years ago

Oh. I beg your pardon. I thought it was.

[–] RepsakTK 8 years ago

I just saw it and it's not haunting at all. The premise was interesting, but the execution of the film was boring. I hope Sleuth is better.

I give it 5/10 only because of some good acting.

Drive is pure cinema.

[–] Freddyfan951 8 years ago

One of the things that makes it so haunting for me is how deceptively cheerful it is. The beautiful music and atmosphere seems so fun at first, but then you see how creepy it all is. It's like a pretty garden with a rotting body beneath it, waiting to be discovered. It's a much more subtle way of disturbing someone, but much more effective.