--- title: "The Wicker Man: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-wicker-man/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-wicker-man" critics_score: 88 critics_reviews: 8 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): what the critics said Critics' score 88 from 8 reviews: 8 positive, 0 mixed, 0 negative. 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. ## Time Out — Phil de Semlyen Rating 5/5. 23 June 2023. 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 the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-wicker-man-1) ## Slant Magazine — Greg Cwik Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 10 October 2013. 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 the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/a-lucid-restoration-robin-hardys-the-wicker-man/) ## Radio Times — Andrew Collins Rating 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 the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-8txa8u/the-wicker-man/) ## Sight and Sound Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 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 the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/immensely-enjoyable-piece-hokum-wicker-man-reviewed-1974) ## Empire — Adam Smith 1 January 2000. 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 the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/empire-essay-wicker-man-review/) ## Evening Standard 10 April 2012. 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 the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/smile-at-the-audacity-7398644.html) ## The AV Club — Tasha Robinson 19 April 2002. 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 the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-wicker-man-dvd-1798197182) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Stephen Dalton 24 September 2013. 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 the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/wicker-man-final-cut-film-635790/) ## The Independent 17 October 2013. 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 the review](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 31 December 1972. 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 the review](https://variety.com/1972/film/reviews/the-wicker-man-1200422895/) ## Den of Geek — Ethan Lewis Rating 5/5. 2 May 2013. 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 the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-wicker-man-1973-lookback/) ## Collider — Lloyd Farley Rating A-. 6 December 2023. 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 the review](https://collider.com/the-wicker-man-review-1973/) ## Eye for Film — Max Blinkhorn Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 7 September 2006. 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 the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-wicker-man-film-review-by-max-blinkhorn) ## Polygon — Sean T. Collins Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 2 October 2019. 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 the review](https://www.polygon.com/2019/10/2/20893847/the-wicker-man-horror-movie-politics-denialism/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-wicker-man.md