MovieChat Forums > Picnic at Hanging Rock (1979) Discussion > Similarities to "The Wicker Man" (1973).

Similarities to "The Wicker Man" (1973).


Hi, did anyone feel in any way that both this film Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) and "The Wicker Man" (1973) had some similarities, besides both films being made in the 1970s and feature the themes of young girl(s) disappearing under mysterious circumstances?

Also, which film out of the two do you personally prefer more, thanks.

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They are both films with a unique atmosphere, a sustained sense of dread and a compelling strangeness about them, but I don’t see much similarity beyond that. They certainly don’t seem, to me, to be set in the same version of the world.

Both are excellent but I prefer The Wicker Man.

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Except it's not as funny.

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Both have people stepping away from their usual surroundings, into an unknown situation. The folky/spacey soundtracks too.
The big difference is in their endings of course, with the all or nothing approach.

TWMs ending makes it an 'easier' watch in that sense for some viewers, and is rightly regarded as the finest British horror film. PAHR exists in ambiguity and atmosphere.

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