---
title: "The Wicker Man"
year: 1973
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-wicker-man"
fi1m_id: "the-wicker-man"
imdb_id: "tt0070917"
tmdb_id: 16307
wikidata_id: "Q1140649"
fi1m_score: 90
critics_score: 88
critics_reviews: 8
published: "2026-09-12"
updated: "2026-09-18T08:37:46.422221+00:00"
region: "US"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# The Wicker Man (1973)

Directed by Robin Hardy · 1h 33m · MPA R · Horror

## Identity

The Wicker Man

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/the-wicker-man
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** the-wicker-man
- **IMDb ID:** tt0070917
- **TMDB ID:** 16307
- **Wikidata ID:** Q1140649
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070917/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/16307, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1140649

**Fi1m score: 90** · Critics 88 from 8 reviews

*In a sentence:* An island full of cheerful singers makes a reasonable case for staying on the mainland

> Robin Hardy’s *The Wicker Man* makes a police enquiry funny, seductive and frightening, with Edward Woodward giving its religious conflict a stubborn human presence. A little stiff in places, it earns its lasting unease.

## Synopsis

Sergeant Neil Howie (Edward Woodward) travels to a remote Scottish island to investigate a disappearance. A Christian, he finds a community whose pagan beliefs and fertility rites clash with his own convictions. Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee) presides over the island, where singing and ritual accompany the sergeant’s enquiries. As Howie tries to establish what has happened, his disapproval of the inhabitants complicates his dealings with them. Robin Hardy directs Anthony Shaffer’s screenplay, with Britt Ekland as Willow MacGreagor, Diane Cilento as Miss Rose and Ingrid Pitt as the librarian.

## Review

Robin Hardy’s *The Wicker Man* is a frightening, funny horror film that makes religious conviction matter to the people holding it. Anthony Shaffer’s screenplay follows Sergeant Neil Howie, a Christian policeman investigating a disappearance on a remote Scottish island, into a community that sees nothing shameful in its pagan customs. Howie objects, and the islanders have little interest in accommodating him. Hardy lets us enjoy his discomfort long enough for that enjoyment to become something we ought to question.

Edward Woodward gives Howie’s disapproval the force of a physical effort; even allowing these people to explain themselves seems to cost him something. His stiffness is funny because the islanders appear so comfortable with the customs he finds intolerable. We laughed at his discomfort among the singing islanders, then felt uneasy about our readiness to join in. Woodward keeps his conviction sufficiently serious that dismissing him as a fool would mean ignoring much of what the performance tells us.

Christopher Lee’s Lord Summerisle is good company in a way that ought to worry us. Lee gives the island’s ruler an ease that makes Howie’s outrage seem faintly provincial, and he does not need to strain for menace. Their opposition is the film’s most useful source of tension: each man regards his own beliefs as perfectly reasonable. The religious conflict works because both actors play people who expect to be believed, even when what they are saying sounds alarming.

Harry Waxman’s photography makes effective use of the island locations, giving the community a convincing place to live. That matters when the rituals arrive, since they belong to people we have already spent time watching. Paul Giovanni’s folk music is just as important, giving the singing islanders an appeal that a more insistently threatening score would destroy. We are allowed to enjoy the music without being told at every moment how to respond to the people making it.

Eric Boyd-Perkins’s editing keeps the police enquiry clear as Hardy moves between comedy, folk songs and unease. The enquiries keep us occupied while the differences between Howie and his hosts become harder to laugh off. There are stiff passages, though, when the screenplay’s need to explain a belief becomes too easy to hear in the dialogue. Hardy does not always get those exchanges moving naturally, and for a few moments the people seem to be waiting their turn to state a position.

Hardy does not need everyone to behave like an obvious threat. These people can sing, discuss their beliefs and seem quite at ease without making us feel safe. Shaffer understands the suspicion generated by a mystery, but he also understands the irritation of being surrounded by people who think our objections are absurd. The humour is worth keeping: without it, Howie would be easier to support and the islanders much easier to dismiss.

At 93 minutes, it has time to make the island attractive without wearing out the police enquiry. The later developments deserve to be encountered without a guide, so we will say only that Hardy’s confidence in the story is justified. We recommend it even to those who usually avoid horror, with one warning: the songs are no promise of a comfortable evening.

*Fi1m score 90, published 12 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

The consensus is strongly positive: most critics find The Wicker Man unsettling, darkly funny and unusually assured in its mixture of mystery, music and religious conflict. Praise clusters around Anthony Shaffer’s script, which builds unease through the investigation, and the performances of Edward Woodward and Christopher Lee. The folk music also draws praise, while Time Out singles out Woodward’s restraint and the balance between narrative logic and uncanny mystery.

The differences concern degree of enthusiasm and emphasis rather than outright objections. Radio Times notes some stilted moments, and The AV Club finds directorial missteps without losing admiration for the script and performances. Sight and Sound treats the film as enjoyable, carefully researched hokum, placing particular weight on Shaffer’s handling of mystery mechanics. Reservations remain minor across the reviews; critics differ more over whether to stress the horror, the humour or the treatment of belief.

## Straight answers

**Is The Wicker Man worth watching?**

*The Wicker Man* is worth watching for almost anyone, including viewers who usually avoid horror, and we scored it 90. Robin Hardy's film is funny and seductive before it is frightening, with Edward Woodward and Christopher Lee giving its clash of beliefs real weight. A few stiff passages of dialogue are the only reservation, and the songs are no promise of a comfortable evening.

**How long is The Wicker Man, and what is it rated?**

*The Wicker Man* runs 1h 33m and is rated R by the MPA in the US. It is a horror film.

**Where can I watch The Wicker Man in the US?**

*The Wicker Man* is streaming on Amazon Prime Video, Tubi and The Roku Channel in the US, and it is also available to rent from Amazon Prime Video from $3.99. It leaves Tubi on 1 October. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How violent or frightening is The Wicker Man, and is it suitable for children?**

*The Wicker Man* carries a UK 18 certificate and is not suitable for children. For much of its 93 minutes the fear comes from unease rather than violence, as a Christian policeman investigates a disappearance among cheerful pagan islanders, but the film's later developments earn the certificate. Teenagers and the squeamish should treat it as an adult horror film, not a folk curiosity.

**How does The Wicker Man compare to Picnic at Hanging Rock?**

*The Wicker Man* is the funnier and more frightening of the two, while [*Picnic at Hanging Rock*](https://film.one/film/picnic-at-hanging-rock) is the gentler and more dreamlike, and we recommend both. Each follows a disappearance that unsettles a community whose rules protect nobody, but Hardy's film builds to open religious conflict where Weir's stays sunlit and unresolved. For us the earlier film is the stronger; those who prefer mood to menace may lean the other way.

**Is The Wicker Man based on a true story or a book?**

*The Wicker Man* is not based on a true story; it is adapted from a novel by David Pinner, with a screenplay by Anthony Shaffer. How closely the film follows the book is not something we can vouch for, and it does not matter. The film explains its island, its beliefs and its policeman entirely on its own terms, and knowing the source adds nothing a viewer needs.

### Reviews we read (14)

- **Time Out**, Phil de Semlyen (5/5): The review hails the film as a high-water mark of folk horror and British cinema itself. It singles out Edward Woodward’s brilliantly measured performance and the balance of narrative logic to uncanny mystery for praise. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-wicker-man-1)
- **Slant Magazine**, Greg Cwik (85/100, inferred): The restored film feels like a lucid dream, darkly comic and bizarrely charming with fluctuating tones from hysterical to horrifying. The critic singles out the quirky humor in cultural clashes and the wickedly profound final revelation. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/a-lucid-restoration-robin-hardys-the-wicker-man/)
- **Radio Times**, Andrew Collins (4/5): The critic notes that the film has attained classic status and packs a bizarre, disturbing punch. They single out the brilliant scripting by Anthony Shaffer and impressive location staging for praise, while noting some stilted moments. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-8txa8u/the-wicker-man/)
- **Sight and Sound** (80/100, inferred): The critic finds the film an immensely enjoyable piece of hokum that is thoroughly well researched, performed and directed. They single out Anthony Shaffer's cleverly dovetailed script for particular praise, noting how it builds unease and manipulates mystery thriller mechanics with sly delight. [Read](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/immensely-enjoyable-piece-hokum-wicker-man-reviewed-1974)
- **Empire**, Adam Smith: The critic hails the film as towering above other British horrors for its intelligent, troubling take on paganism versus Christianity and repression. Its power stems from believable religious dogma and the unforgettable final sequence of the burning wicker man. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/empire-essay-wicker-man-review/)
- **Evening Standard**: The piece notes the cult horror's audacious pagan rituals and feel-bad ending, which still provoke smiles and shivers despite missing footage in the version reviewed. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/smile-at-the-audacity-7398644.html)
- **The AV Club**, Tasha Robinson: The film succeeds as a lighthearted mystery that builds to powerful imagery and a chilling tone with an unforgettable ending. The critic praises the efficient script and iconic performances by Lee and Woodward despite some directorial missteps. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/the-wicker-man-dvd-1798197182)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Stephen Dalton: The restored film retains its potent mix of pagan horror and trippy hippie weirdness as a cult classic whose reputation has deepened. The critic singles out the spellbinding folk score and the film's bizarre, bewitching fable quality. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/wicker-man-final-cut-film-635790/)
- **The Independent**: The review describes the 1973 film as a powerfully unsettling masterpiece full of pagan rituals, singing islanders, and shocking elements encountered by the prim copper protagonist. [Read](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/dvd-bluray-review-the-wicker-man-the-final-cut-40th-anniversary-edition-15-8887193.html)
- **Variety**, Variety Staff: The film receives praise for its weird and paganistic story set on a remote Scottish island and for the screenplay's sheer imagination and near-terror. Frightening aspects build as a police sergeant investigates a disappearance and encounters sinister pagan practices and fertility rites under a suave despot. [Read](https://variety.com/1972/film/reviews/the-wicker-man-1200422895/)
- **Den of Geek**, Ethan Lewis (5/5): The critic praises the film's complex themes on religion and judgment while highlighting its memorable folk music and strong cast, particularly Christopher Lee's charismatic Lord Summerisle and Edward Woodward's unlikeable but effective Sergeant Howie. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-wicker-man-1973-lookback/)
- **Collider**, Lloyd Farley (A-): The critic calls the film one of horror’s greatest achievements for its unique mix of genres, its exploration of the clash between Christianity and paganism, and the excellent performances by Edward Woodward and Christopher Lee. It unsettles viewers long after it ends and has stood the test of time. [Read](https://collider.com/the-wicker-man-review-1973/)
- **Eye for Film**, Max Blinkhorn (90/100, inferred): The critic praises the film as a milestone in British cinema, highlighting the strong performances, particularly Edward Woodward's as the beleaguered sergeant and Christopher Lee's menacing Lord Summerisle, along with the striking visuals and unique climax. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-wicker-man-film-review-by-max-blinkhorn)
- **Polygon**, Sean T. Collins (80/100, inferred): The critic sees the film as a sharp allegory for ideological denialism, noting how its structure tricks viewers into initially favoring the pagans before revealing their dangerous refusal to accept reality. Christopher Lee’s chilling delivery of a key line captures the mindset perfectly. [Read](https://www.polygon.com/2019/10/2/20893847/the-wicker-man-horror-movie-politics-denialism/)

## Details

- **Director:** Robin Hardy
- **Director:** Robin Hardy
- **Screenplay:** Anthony Shaffer
- **Novel:** David Pinner
- **Cinematography:** Harry Waxman
- **Editor:** Eric Boyd-Perkins
- **Music:** Paul Giovanni
- **Costume design:** Sue Yelland
- **Producer:** Peter Snell
- **Cast:** Edward Woodward as Sergeant Neil Howie; Christopher Lee as Lord Summerisle; Britt Ekland as Willow MacGreagor; Diane Cilento as Miss Rose; Ingrid Pitt as Librarian; Roy Boyd as Broome; Lesley Mackie as Daisy; Walter Carr as School Master
- **Runtime:** 1h 33m
- **Certificate (MPA):** R
- **Release (the US):** 15 May 1974
- **Genres:** Horror
- **Budget:** $810,000
- **Box office:** $885,371
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXq-NuS24fg

## Where to watch in the US

- Amazon Prime Video: streaming, uhd
- Tubi: free, hd, leaving 2026-10-01
- Amazon Prime Video: free, uhd
- The Roku Channel: add-on, hd
- Amazon Prime Video: add-on, uhd
- Amazon Prime Video: rent $3.99, hd
- Amazon Prime Video: buy $5.99, sd

*Checked 2026-09-12.*

Also available in: AT, AU, BG, CA, CZ, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, IE, IT, JP, LT, NO, NZ, SE, US. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## If you liked this

- *Witchfinder General* (1968): Another unsettling account of religious certainty, with little comfort in authority.
- *Picnic at Hanging Rock* (1975), Fi1m 88: A disappearance unsettles a community whose rules offer less protection than expected. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/picnic-at-hanging-rock.md)
- *Onibaba* (1964): Rural isolation, sexual jealousy and frightening beliefs, with scarcely a moment’s comfort.
- *The Witch* (2015): A family’s religious convictions make every misfortune more frightening and more personal.
- *November* (2017): Folklore governs daily life, with strange humour and cruelty seldom far apart.

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/the-wicker-man