A deeply religious police sergeant travels to a island village to try to solve the mystery of a girl who disappeared there. On his arrival, he finds that none of the residents have even heard of her. As his investigations progess, he is exposed to more and more of the “heathen” traditions of the island’s pagan ways, realising the girl’s disappearance is somehow linked to them.
Although described as a horror, or a thriller, I wouldn’t really class The Wicker Man as either. It’s a mystery, with a somewhat horrific realisation at the end, but for the most part plays out like some sort of musical fantasy film.
Remarkably, much of the ritual side of the plot is actually based in reality, which adds even more to the story. Thoroughly recommended.
Verdict: 5/5
Dunno about the ‘not horror’ bit – the look on Edward Woodward’s face, followed by the cry of “Jesus Christ!” (especially from such a straight-laced christian) at his moment of realisation, contains 500% more horror than the average “Night of the diary you kept last easter creep smoke” type movie.