MovieChat Forums > The Wicker Man (1974) Discussion > Bit of a let-down

Bit of a let-down

posted 8 years ago by RepsakTK
6 replies | jump to latest

I read on this forum that this movie was haunting, but it really wasn't. The premise sounded interesting, but the execution was a bit boring and I don't think it was a good idea to make Howie so unlikeable. We all know, we're supposed to sympatize with him and I'm NOT saying that what the islanders did wasn't wrong, but it would have been more haunting and unnerving if the filmmakers had made Howie less unlikeable than what they made him. The movie portrayed the islanders as sociopaths, but Howie clearly had some sociopathic vibes to himself also. No one in this movie had any likeabilty to them and that was really a let-down, it felt like the filmmakers didn't have the balls to go all the way and really make it unfair and unsettling with a protagonist we all would cheer for. No movie really does that, they always gives the so called protagonist some flaws so it's easier for the audience to accept his cruel destiny. Wish they'd go balls out sometimes, but I guess it's too controversial to roll the dice and do so.

As I said, a bit of a let-down. 5/10.

Drive is pure cinema.

[–] The_White_Hotel 8 years ago

The whole point was to show a comparison between Howie's devoutness and the islanders'. The reason Howie is selected to be killed is because of his deeply held beliefs about christianity, authoritarianism and British identity and the film plays on the irony of where these beliefs carry him. If he was a likable man he would not have been chosen in the first place.

Reality is the new fiction they say, truth is truer these days, truth is man-made

[–] RepsakTK 8 years ago

Why would he not have been chosen? You can still be a good person with beliefs and standpoints such as his, and him trying to show them the christian way is not what I'm objecting against, I get that you've got to have that premise, but did he have to be rude or offensive? Not if you ask me. From the get-go he was an unlikeable character and yes, he's an authority so he has to show professionalism, but that can be done without being rude or offensive.
I'm sorry, but I really can't see the irony behind such choices from the filmmakers. It's a classic case of not wanting to make the protagonist too likeable, because he'll eventually be killed off. If we do go with your theory that the film plays with the irony of where his beliefs and narrow-minded personality takes him, then I still think it was the wrong choice, because as I said, it makes the ending less effect-full and emotional. This could have been so powerfull, bold and unlike any movie, but it just wasn't. I'd much rather have had that then the irony. However the irony could actually easily have been there too, because as I said, he didn't need to be rude, hostile and offensive to still serve purpose to the story and the irony in it. There's a whole lot of irony in the mere fact that he believes in a god who got sacrificed and he has the same destiny or the irony between two strong religious beliefs being portrayed as both being so strong that they come of as farfetched and brainwashing.
It's a few days since I've watched the movie and I had actually forgotten about it until i saw your post. So to me it just wasn't haunting at all.

Drive is pure cinema.

[–] The_White_Hotel 8 years ago

Well sorry you didn't like it but I stand by my observation that Howie has to be a prick for it to work. The point behind his selection was that the islanders needed a thoroughly devout christian martyr, and to fill that role he must be completely convinced by his own rectitude otherwise (according to their beliefs) the sacrifice would not have saved their crops. In short, if Howie wasn't completely horrified by the nature of the islanders' lifestyle and did not seek to impose his own convictions over them he would not have been the right choice for their sacrifice. It's absolutely not a cop out on the film maker's part, Howie's priggishness, hubris and generally objectionable demeanour is essential to his character and to the islanders' plot. If Howie is not like that we have a different film that says different things, which is fine, but would not be The Wicker Man.

Reality is the new fiction they say, truth is truer these days, truth is man-made

[–] RepsakTK 8 years ago

No, it would not have been The Wicker Man, it would probably have been a good movie as opposed to a let-down. Making excuses such as yours is okay and I can understand what you're trying to say and your point of view, that being said, they could still easily had toned his unappealing personality down, at least to the amount where the audience would actually have compassion for him and as so making the ending much more haunting and ballsy. But at least there where no bees.

Drive is pure cinema.

[–] The_White_Hotel 8 years ago

Maybe a let down for you but it's amongst my twelve or fifteen favourite movies so obviously it did something right.

Reality is the new fiction they say, truth is truer these days, truth is man-made

[–] EconomistOfDeath 8 years ago

Personally, I enjoy when lead characters are developed in a negative light. When properly executed (no pun intended), it adds an extra philosophical layer.