The Wriven Man 1973 is one of the most important horror films in the history of world cinema. And he's very unusual. Even now, when the viewer, it would seem, nothing to surprise, this strange picture stands alone.
The Wicker Man is the story of a police officer who travels to Scotland to investigate the disappearance of a teenage girl. The island is small, the locals know each other well, but the girl disappeared without a trace. But it is strange not only this, but how this circumstance is perceived by relatives and neighbors of the missing. They seem to care, moreover, they claim that the girl wanted never existed.
Horror almost always carries plot twists. Unexpectedness is one of their main common characteristics. But in this respect, the “Wrapped Man” surpassed many of his predecessors and followers.
The tape begins as a police detective, turns into a mystical thriller, includes absolutely unexpected and fascinating musical numbers, and by the end transforms into a cruel horror with incredible visual images and references to folklore.
The woven man is called one of the founders of folk horror, stories where national traditions and creativity become a source of sinister acts and manifestations. In 2019, most viewers admired the originality of the idea and implementation of Ari Astaire’s folk horror The Sun. However, the audience familiar with the “Writer Man” invited everyone to watch this film to make sure that the tape from the 70s is much more inventive and scary.
Even more surprising is that The Wicker Man is a directorial debut. The film was directed by Robin Hardy, in the filmography of which there are only 4 films, and the last - "Wrapped Tree" in 2011 - is a sequel to his first picture.
The Wicker Man has an unsuccessful 2006 remake starring Nicolas Cage. References to this picture you could see in such cult tapes as Candyman, Saw, Mysterious Forest, Hostel, etc. And recently it became known that a horror series is being prepared on the basis of the film.
The Wicker Man is also an opportunity to see the young Sir Christopher Lee. He plays the main role here, and you probably know as the wizard Saruman from The Lord of the Rings.
If you haven’t seen Wicker Man, make sure to fix it. Even if you don’t really like it, you’ll find echoes of it in hundreds of other movies.
It starts as a detective story. A policeman arrives on a Scottish island to find a missing girl. The inhabitants of the island are cheerful and libertine and clearly adhere to pagan beliefs. In addition, everyone is preparing for some kind of ritual, obviously associated with some kind of sacrifice. The policeman (a righteous Christian) does not like all this, and he wants to understand everything at all costs.
The atmosphere is quite light and even somewhere comedic. By the end, things get dark and heated. Obviously, you can compare with the Solstice, but the sensations are completely different.
It occurred to me that sooner or later pagan beliefs would return and supplant Christianity. It has grown too much into a state that for the most part deceives and disappoints people. And faith in the gods of nature is simpler, clearer and probably somewhere more honest.
There's also great music in the movie. That's the psychedelic folk of the '70s.
I recommend it.
The best horror is not the one that tries to scare the viewer with sophisticated effects, about the one who is able to get to the depths of his soul. This can be done in completely different ways. Someone picks up through banal phobias, someone through social and psychological problems, and someone through folklore. Yes, folk horror occupies a separate place in the genre of horror, but at the same time is able to plunge the viewer into the abyss of madness and terrifying despair. One of the exemplary films of this genre is the horror film “Wrapped Man”.
Police Inspector Neil Howie is set to investigate the disappearance of a teenage girl on the secluded island of Summerisle, off the west coast of Scotland. Immediately after arrival, the inspector immediately notices that something is wrong with the inhabitants of this island. Behind the mask of warmth and affability lies cold hostility and conspiracy. Soon Howie realizes that an ancient cult rules the island, and Howie himself becomes part of a pagan ritual.
It is worth noting that “Wrapped Man” is not a trivial horror film, which is expressed in acting. Edward Woodward played Sergeant Neil Howie, a deeply devout Christian and law-abiding police officer who, for the first time in his life, faced an uncontrollable and incomprehensible phenomenon that would break not only his body but also his soul. I really liked the performance of Christopher Lee as Lord Summerisle, the head of the community and cult, at first glance a wise mentor, under the mask of which a cynical soulless monster hides.
For British director Robin Hardy, “The Wicker Man” became the debut film. At the same time, the director fundamentally does not follow the canons of the horror genre, abandoning trivial methods of whipping up fear. At first, the film may look like a black comedy with elements of a musical, because something absurd happens on the screen. It’s like an ordinary little Scottish town with cute shops and authentic houses, and then we see an orgy in the middle of the central square, little children singing obscene songs, islanders who say that the missing girl never existed, and when it becomes clear that she was here, only cynically laugh in response. The tension swings like a pendulum. At first, harmless insanity becomes more dangerous. Indecent songs and absurd actions no longer seem so funny. Patience is over, there is no laughing matter. But for the hero it becomes too late, and it remains only with horror to expect how this nightmare will end.
It is worth noting that the plot of the film is literally saturated with the theme of religious opposition to the dogmatics of Christianity and the postulates of paganism. In fact, before the viewer there is a collision of two systems of worldview and worldview, where people look at the same things differently. The film begins with a church service scene. As we learn, the main character Inspector Neil Howie is engaged to a young beauty, and strictly observes Christian dogmas, remaining a virgin even after thirty. He is ordered to investigate the disappearance of a teenage girl on the lonely island of Summerisle, near Scotland. Arriving on a police seaplane, Neil sees an ordinary village with friendly residents and cute houses. They are preparing for the upcoming harvest festival. At first, this may seem like part of a banal tradition, but it soon becomes clear that the inhabitants of the island sincerely believe in the performed pagan rituals, from public orgies and dancing naked at the campfire to the sacrifice of living people. Neal begins to suspect that the missing girl must become the victim of the ancient Celtic gods, and now he must find her and save her from this nightmare. But the problem is that this is an island, the Nile has no friends here, and you can not trust anyone here.
The result of “Wrapped Man” is a very specific horror, strikingly different from the representatives of its genre. A simple viewer after watching, for sure, will rush in guesses, and what he basically just saw. But I assure you, it is this dissimilarity and non-triviality that catches, and the subsequent realization makes it clear what a nightmare you just saw. In general, I recommend watching.
Very cool, stylish and, I can imagine, unexpected for that time. However, in the old days, they were not particularly ceremonious with the “subtle mental organization” of the viewer and did not hesitate to shock him with tragic endings. You can remember the old Lord of the Flies, the Stepford Wives, etc.
"Steep mix of genres" is generally my favorite technique. I will never watch melodrama, comedy, horror in their pure form: without the admixture of drama (that is, without material for reflection), all this is too boring and bland. In this film, of course, I also liked this uncertainty of the genre. It is now the "Sun" called ethnohorror, and in 1973 "Wrapped man" probably was beyond any genres, became an outlet for all existing frameworks. One of a kind.
And my favorite scene, as I call it, is the "sexy call of the manager's daughter." This knock on the wall, at first so imposing and lazy (but already very confident), gradually more domineering, hypnotizing, introducing into trance. No matter what the sergeant formally resisted - the confusion of the soul and body was present! How carelessly she fixed the picture in his room in the morning, realizing that he was climbing the wall (literally) out of desire! In our time, no film is complete without explicit sexual intercourse, and the viewer does not care at all. And you can like to separate the characters in different rooms and make it super erotic action. Writers are great writers!
Reviews of this film often say that it does not scare. And to my taste, it's better than a simple scarecrow (and how can an adult get scared of a movie at all?) Well, it's not scary -- it's disturbing, like a bad, languishing dream you can't get out of. It seems like nothing terrible, but somehow painful and unpleasant, and you want to wake up, and you can’t. I’ll add that I watched it after the 2006 movie, so I knew the plot and I was really scared! And watching a movie with my beloved Cage, I experienced nothing.
8 out of 10
'The Waven Man' is the picturesque nature of Scotland, beautiful folk and its strange locals. I really liked the style of the picture, which is simply perfectly directed. Little-known Robin Hardy shot a real classic! 'Waven Man' - just like an exemplary detective thriller. The composer worked on 'ura'. Beautiful music pleases the ear, adding even more atmosphere to the film. Great and unconventional scenario. I was impressed with good editing and shooting. Despite the idleness of the picture for most of the time does not let go of the feeling of tension and anxiety. I will note the well-written dialogues. Sir Christopher Lee, as always, was noted for his strong acting. Without being cynical, I can't help but point out that Sergeant Howie is not a good detective. Dementia and courage are his motto. There are also very beautiful girls in the picture. Real sirens, before the charms of which not everyone can stand. The final scene was particularly impressive. It's like the cherry on a huge, delicious cake. Very impressed
P.S. It is interesting that Sir Christopher Lee, who considered ' The Wicker Man' his best film, starred in the film for free.
9 out of 10
The main character, a man from the mountain police, comes to the island to investigate the disappearance of a girl. The main character will face lies and conspiracies.
In my opinion, the tape conveys impeccably the atmosphere of despair. The film opens the puzzle, and with each guess, along with the main character, the viewer gets into that hopeless state.
Probably, every viewer wants the main character to be able to overcome all this evil that lurks on this island. With each passing minute, there is less chance and more terror. To find out whether the hero will prevail, what he faced, you can only see the final.
And this finale, of course, is beyond praise.
This is a great merit of Robin Hardy, Harry Waxman and Paul Giovanni.
From the actors, I will highlight Christopher Lee. The bright role of the sinister Lord Summerisle.
The film turned out to be versatile. And drama, and horror, and even a musical. The lyrics of a lot of the songs are, of course, strange, and in some ways frightening. But that's a plus.
I believe that many who worked on this film (actors, director, screenwriter, composer, cameraman and others) did the work at the highest level.
The film takes its versatility, atmosphere of fear and dynamism.
In the 60s of the last century in London there was a meeting of Robin Hardy and Anthony Shaffer. The result of this meeting was the emergence of a business company 'Hardy Shaffer Ferguson Avery' for which commercials are directed by Hardy himself, and Schaeffer acts as a screenwriter. Hardy was also very interested in Christian and pagan cults, so much so that he even published several books on his research on specific topics. Hardy decided not to stop there and, calling on Shaffer for help, they began to create a film called 'The Wicker Man' which later became a recognized classic of the so-called folk-horror genre.
The events are built around the remote island of Summerisle and its strange inhabitants. It is on Summerisle in order to investigate the mysterious disappearance of the girl is a police sergeant Neil Howie (Edward Woodward). Separate, raised on their very amazing religious views and cold attitude to strangers, the residents of Summerisle literally put the sergeant out of balance. As a devout Christian, he is angry about sexual emancipation and unambiguous words and songs about physical relationships on Summerisle. But this only causes Howie skepticism, misunderstanding and ridicule of the islanders. Meanwhile, as a police officer, Howie tries to find traces of the missing girl, but he does not know what lies ahead. There is nothing good about the island. . .
Of course, the British have always been able to shock the audience with their harsh and sometimes violent films. The most obvious examples of British provocation and the desire to break the frames are ' If...' (1968) and ' Clockwork Orange' (1971). By the way, in both films, the title role was given to Malcolm McDowell, who in those years was in unusual favor and literally could dictate his conditions on the set. But back to 'The Wavered Man'. Of course, one of the main plot threads that make the picture stand out is the demonstration of copulation and sexual emancipation that exists on Summerisle as a matter of course, as we go shopping. Unexpected, of course, move, but such openness and visual ruthlessness even now look with surprise, and moments and condemnation.
The second point that distinguishes 'The Waven Man' is the viewer’s acquaintance with pagan cults through the film. This issue has already been raised in cinema, but for the most part was attached to documentary, and here a live feature film reveals some secrets from the history of mankind. And also with such a frightening straightforwardness that one can think that these cults exist to this day. They may or may not exist, but in a new interpretation. But once again it is worth paying attention to the release date of the film and it seems extraordinary that such a film as ' The Wicker Man' was censored. It’s time to say a few words about acting. And it can even be argued that everyone tried to perform functions, embodying images, as the genre demanded. Hero Edward Woodward really looked ' white crow' on the island, but it is worth to taste the expression that he gives in the unexpected ending 'The Wicker Man' And beautiful women are present here, who give effect to the tape, because you will never expect a trick from such.
In general, it is quite obvious why 'The Wicker Man' is recognized as a classic of the genre and slightly revealed its facets, adding the aesthetics of the so-called folk horror. And the plot is built even for our time, when there were thousands of films and hundreds in the genre of horror, somewhat unusual, and the provocativeness has already been said several times. And the acting to become a horror, it would be necessary to learn some on 'The Waven Man' and the film directly claims that the settings can be different, and not abandoned houses or mental hospitals, and the main characters can be not only teenagers.
8 out of 10
I was going to get acquainted with the debut work of director Robin Hardy, because I heard about it many times. Many people praised her, but there was almost no criticism. Going to the page of the film on the KP, I was also quite surprised by the lack of reviews of red. Everything happens for the first time.
Plot. Sgt. Neil Howie arrives on a small island near Scotland on a seaplane to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a local girl. The locals behave strangely, and after a while it turns out that they are all members of a sect and practice the rituals of ancient Celtic paganism. . .
The two main problems of the storyline are the monstrous predictability and illogical behavior of the protagonist. Due to the fact that the viewer is constantly waiting for something unusual and does not believe in simplicity, after viewing with a high degree of probability, he will be completely disappointed. Now a little about Howie. How did the nearest police station find out about the man's disappearance and why is he so far away? We don't get the details, okay? The protagonist arrives alone (!) on an unfamiliar island (!!), almost from the first minutes determines the cause of the disappearance of the girl, sees the hostility and secrecy of the local residents (!!!). Does he draw any conclusions from this information? Nope. Drops a plane without security, does not try to contact his management by phone and report the situation. Hell, he even wanders around the island without a gun. If a person is driven into a hopeless position, he will try to escape and fight to the end. But it's not about the sergeant. At the end of the film, they call him a fool. And this is completely true, because our hero is not much smarter than the average chicken.
Atmosphere. Because of the detached and stupid behavior of the police officer, it becomes difficult for the viewer to empathize with him. If he doesn't care about his own fate, then why would that bother me? In addition, Edward Woodward's play (Sgt. Howie) was not perfect. He is emotionally overplaying, then he is too slow. Of the actors I liked the most was Christopher Lee (Lord Summerisle). One of the advantages of the tape is the beautiful views shown from the plane. The operator worked hard. You can also note the memorable dance Britt Ekland (Willow) in his room and the ending that remains for a long time in memory.
Fear/Strain. There is no fear or at least tension in the picture. Part of this is to blame for the bland presentation of the narrative and frail musical accompaniment, which will be discussed below.
Music. For horror, strange songs were chosen, which are sometimes used out of place. For example, at the beginning of the tape sounds a funny melody, which, forgive me, does not set up for the upcoming terrible story. But some called the genre of the picture 'folk-horror' And if there is really a lot of folk music here, then the second word, in my opinion, does not justify the expectations placed on it.
Result. I do not understand the positive feedback on this picture. There's nothing to look at. Almost all screen time consists of a stupid pagan holiday, the focus of which is a stupid police sergeant.
3 out of 10
(33%), how poorly filmed... Oh My God! P.S. There is another serious mistake in the film: in two different frames in the magazine with a list of girls opposite the missing in the column & #39; address & #39; written different addresses.
Experience shows that if the nucleus of the film to make a conflict of several sides, and to choose a successful form for the "packaging" of this core, the product is of high quality. It does not matter if the plot is full of action scenes and vivid images, it is enough to observe the first two conditions for creating a worthwhile picture.
Robin Hardy definitely made a movie that fits that description. In the center of the plot is the confrontation of Catholic and pagan cultures. The topic is not new, but it can not be called old either. The main role in the film is played by Sergeant Neil Howe, whose image was created by Edward Woodward. Edward has a very colorful character, perfectly reflecting the conservative type of Catholic. Pagans also came out believable: the film conveys the promiscuity of their behavior, striking the viewer, brought up in the Western tradition.
Can the movie offer something to a horror lover? Sure! While watching, I had more than once a feeling of discomfort and even fear, although the film is mostly kept in light colors, which indicates the presence of an atmosphere. Of course, you should not expect a picture of a sea of corpses and countless scarecrows, as from a primitive slasher. Still, the film is able to scare the moments, but its value is more in the shades of mood and tension that remain in consciousness for a long time. It is worth saying that the viewer, tempted by modern films, needs to be patient, and then the award will not be long in coming.
Have a good time!
The poor bug walks and walks in circles, and as a result will rest in a nail and will not be able to move, poor thing.
Inspector of the Western District Police, Sergeant Howie, after receiving an anonymous letter, arrives on the island of Summeryland in order to deal with the story of the missing local girl. To his surprise, none of the locals recognize the missing Rowan Morrison in the photo, along the way leading the policeman into ever more confusion. An additional shock to the inspector is the fact that the local inhabitants profess a strange pagan cult, the customs and rituals of which are very different from his religion and perception of the world.
The director of the picture - Robin Hardy, who gained fame thanks to this picture, tried to fame. I confess, I have always been attracted to stories about certain occult sects, religious clans, pagan communities, so this tape simply could not leave me indifferent.
In the course of timekeeping, you completely immerse yourself in the entourage of the picture: the director masterfully acquainted the viewer with the cult of the residents of Summeryland: their alien beliefs, strange medicine, totem worship, symbolizing phallic symbols, meaning the revival of nature and unity with it, original masquerades holidays - all this gives an indescribable atmosphere.
What about the real God, in whose honor churches and monasteries have been built for centuries? What about him, sir? - He's dead, and he can't complain. He had a chance, but he failed.
A particularly powerful immersion is obtained due to the narrative, in which the beliefs of local residents and the main character are contradicted - the inspector, a convinced Christian, who is the only one in this godforsaken place who cares about the missing child.
Is there anything I can do for you, Sergeant? - I doubt it. You've all gone crazy.
The acting game is also at the highest level. Edward Woodward is convincing in the image of Inspector Howie, zealously trying to get to the truth and solve the mystery of this island. Christopher Lee is truly striking in the role of Lord Summeryle - an outstanding manipulator, continuing the work of his family, the head of a local cult. There’s something demonic about his game that’s clearly visible in the final scene. Not for nothing, Christopher himself considered this role the most significant in his extensive filmography. I can't agree more with him.
Everyone who received screen time in the picture, the character leaves a special impression with his game. Whether it is a strange cemetery caretaker, the daughter of a tavern owner (Britt Ekland) or a librarian (Ingred Pitt), reminiscent of mythological sirens-seducers.
"The Wivened Man" is really a cult multi-layered film, skillfully combining a fascinating, exemplary dramatic thriller, dissected by the wonderful work of the operator and costumers, skillfully combining notes of suspense, horror, eroticism, irony, religion, reasoning about life and death. In every sense, an amazing sight. I highly recommend this movie!
Robin Hardy’s debut and most famous movie has a truly interesting atmosphere of constant tension, as if all events bring you to the main climax, which can neither be changed nor avoided. The rites of the local population are both fascinating and repulsive to the viewer, they are beautiful, graceful and melodic, and at the same time wild and unusual for an ordinary person. Remarkably, the main character cannot empathize, he is a stupid and blind fanatic, the same as the inhabitants of the island, although he considers himself a reasonable representative of the authorities. In this regard, my first association was, oddly enough, Serebrennikov’s “Student.” The essence of the inspector’s and islanders’ confrontation is that they believe in different things, but in fact believe in the same thing, because neither side is trying to make sense of its position. Exaggerated Collective Version of Most Religious Dialogues in the Film
Constable:
What you do is terrible and unacceptable in a civilized world!
Islander:
-Why not?
Because all cultured people believe in Jesus Christ!
Why is Jesus better than Jesus?
Because all civilized people believe in him!
In contrast to the absurd and awkward remake of 2006, the original works perfectly, affecting the viewer not with screamers or special effects, but with the atmosphere (landscapes, costumes, music, which is an important element of the picture, but does not attract too much attention to the audience) and acting, even I, a person inexperienced in films younger than the 2000s, recognized some actors (Christopher Lee, for example).
As a result, it is a very original work, a terrible, bizarre tale with an unusual ending (which, unfortunately, seems too attractive and unreliable).
The whole film, the viewer, more or less psychologically connected with the policeman, is faced with the pagan absurdity of life on an island forgotten by the world - and with it finds himself in the fools.
A lot of hippism, a lot of clip sketches with folk music and ritual-running visual series. Both children and adults are imbued with chthonic non-Christian energy. So much so that the Christian arguments of a respectable Englishman are often deftly questioned by no less absurdity.
In fact, the island is an experiment like Dr. Moreau's Island, let's say there's nothing rooted in it, but the belief in an invented world is so strong that it becomes truly organic.
Very dignified. Even Maitye Bush did not pass by and used the aesthetic of the film.
More recently, I began to get acquainted with the genre of “Horrors” and in many collections I came across this film. I want to say that from the huge list of genres of this picture, horrors can be safely crossed out, you can replace them with the phrase “It’s terribly interesting” – this will be much more honest.
From the very moment when the main character takes his first step on the island, the “Wrapped Man” most brazenly captures the viewer’s attention and does not let go until the very end. I remembered Alice and her journey for a reason, only here Alice is not the main character, but the viewer. Apparently, the creators wanted to play with the audience when they were working on the film and they succeeded. From the very beginning of the investigation, I kept thinking that something was wrong, that things were not that simple on this island. And closer to the denouement, it becomes clear that all the tension you feel was justified. Even if the film is not to your liking, you should endure until the end, the ending smooths all the irregularities and makes you forget about the minuses.
In fact, the pros and cons of this, undoubtedly, a masterpiece. I really liked the play of secondary actors, I think 80% of all the tension was done by supporting actors and extras. A gorgeous protagonist, I think Edward Woodward played and gave everything 100%. I also remember Ingrid Pitt, who danced in the middle of the movie, and I think he made a lot of men cling to the screen. Other advantages are fully described above - a great story, such an exciting plot is quite difficult to meet.
Now some tar. Personally, it seemed to me that the film is very long, I would remove a lot, something just shortened. I don’t like Christopher Lee yet, and everyone praises him for his role and says he’s unusual and one of his best roles. But for me it was completely unconvincing.
The film is mandatory to watch not only fans to tickle their nerves, but also just fans of a good movie.
8 out of 10
Nothing is worse than when vice is considered normal.
This film taught me a lot. Not all people are ready for freedom. In many movies, it is shown that if there is a reservation, then over time people cease to be human. So what scares us the most? Inhumanity is becoming the norm. And I want to draw attention to the fact that the film is not bad so debunks the famous quote “Jupiter, you are angry, so you are wrong” – look at the pagans, they smile, behave good-natured, because of which the blood freezes in their veins and from the very beginning you realize that something is wrong here. The main character is also quite annoying and with the timing of the film, it is increasingly difficult for him to maintain composure. The thing about the movie is that it annoys everyone except the main character. To the character of Edward Woodward, on the contrary, you feel empathy and keep it the whole film. By the way, I am amazed at his restraint, but I do not understand why he did not call for reinforcements, perhaps with the means of communication on the island tight.
Edward Woodward is a good personification of an enlightened European who suffers from maintaining tolerance even when it is almost impossible. Half of the film, his hero tries to treat with understanding, to the “welcoming barbarians” and does not go beyond his police powers, for which he will pay. Like I said, I felt empathy, which means he played naturally.
Christopher Lee was the reason he started watching the movie. And don’t be confused by its peaceful appearance as a carefree host of the island. He hides a lot of secrets and clearly knows more than he says. As always, a stunning and interesting villainous image and at the same time radically different from his other roles.
You know what the worst part is? At a certain stage of their development, all peoples were pagans for a time. It really hurts me to know that.
P.S. According to some studies, burning alive is the most painful of all possible deaths.
One of the most unusual projects I have seen this year. At first glance, the picture did not attract me at all, I have now seen many varieties of horror and mysticism. But finally, it was with that movie that I got a nice exception. That was the exception of 1973’s The Wicker Man. What’s so special about it, and why is the film worthy of this praise?
Well, undoubtedly characteristic of the original presentation of the story. Mystical films (and it is, and this is certainly not a kind of horror) primarily put pressure on the confusion and unusual implementation. And in the picture it was contained; and even what! The plot of the film tells about a detective who arrived in a sparsely populated island "Summeriland" and here from the very beginning the film presents us with a series of vaguely confused mysterious descriptions of the island itself, its inhabitants, which was sometimes emphasized by a pinch of surrealism. It is enough to describe a couple of scenes in words and you can already understand how ridiculous this seemingly unremarkable town is. The film constantly mocked us, as well as the main character - a Christian, who contains his own orders and moral norms. For the most part, the film keeps us in a kind of stupor. Smoothly and evenly moving into something completely different.
First of all, let me mention the perfect working casting of the film. Edward Woodward played a real stiff British policeman who is faithful to his god, his religion, his norms, foundations and law. And despite what is happening in the film, his worldview and he does not change. Chic and young Christopher Lee was simply not recognized, in such a high-quality image just need to try. And not only he tried, but also the main secondary cast of actors, pagan people who blindly believe in their own popular folklore and mythology. And what their characters do in the film departs from the ordinary representations of the ordinary viewer.
It is easier for children to receive reincarnation than resurrection.
Sergeant Howie, a true British policeman, protected by his uniform from all impiety no less firmly than a crusader with armor, and a monk with a cassock, arrives on the island of Summeriland in search of the missing girl. The local population is clearly hiding something, but the apparent conspiracy does not bother the sergeant. Far more embarrassing to him is the population itself - the simplicity of their manners, their obscene songs, their accent - and, of course, their rites. Paganism was once revived on the island, and the stiff eye of the sergeant is everywhere insulted by red threads, naked maidens, stone circles and May pillars. Not that the sergeant is very concerned about the dogmas of Christianity - just Christianity, in his understanding, it's decency, and that's what Summer Island lacks. Demonstrative dialogue between the police officer and the local lord:
We're very religious here.
- Religious? What about the destroyed churches? Where are the priests? Instead, naked children jumping over a fire?
- It's parthenogenesis. Reproduction without sexual contact.
- Fake religion and fake biology! Have these children ever heard of Christ?
The son of a virgin conceived of the spirit?
At the same time, while the locals seem to be withholding information from the policeman, they’re not too diligent — and obviously they don’t feel like villains, no, they haven’t done anything unnatural. This is much more than a conflict of power and criminals, it is not even a conflict of Christianity and paganism, it is a clash of unnatural, regulated civilization and wild, natural life.
And yet somehow pagan rites, reproduced, as far as we can judge, very accurately, cause anxiety and irrational fear in the viewer, although in essence there is nothing terrible about them - beautiful songs, beautiful dances, beautiful nature, beautiful people, beautiful customs. I can’t tell you how the director achieved this effect – clearly not by empathizing with the limited moron Howie; the only explanation is that we are all on the side of civilization, no matter how religiously tolerant. What is happening on Summeriland seems to be a genuine paganism (much more than the real “pagan,” forgive the incorrect term, the practices I have seen), it is the archetype of antiquity and archaic, and when you look into this abyss, you get dizzy. And you end up falling there, just like a sergeant.
I can’t help but mention the soundtrack – a wonderful folk song that creates a great mood full of Scotland, ancient gods and harvest. I will certainly listen to him. I recommend it to everyone, even if you don’t watch the movie.
So "Wrapped Man" far exceeded my expectations. Great movie to watch.
P.S. I can't shake the embarrassment of initiating "thank the people of Summeryland for the opportunity to observe their customs" at the beginning of a film about human sacrifice.
After a slurred movie with Cage, I stuck my nose in the 1973 original and was very impressed. A very unexpected movie.
Everything in this film turned out to be very mysterious and pagan, the opposition between paganism and Christianity is shown from a very interesting angle, you do not even know which side to take. On the one hand there are glimpses of "Satanism" in paganism, on the other - paganism as the basis of all world religions. Of course, I think such global questions in this film were not raised, but why, through the prism of this story, they still appear in watching it.
A lot of nude female body and erotica, although, for the 70s it is not uncommon. And then, all of a sudden, it's almost a musical, a lot of music and songs. And good music, with echoes of ethnic motives.
Each frame presents more and more new questions. It is impossible to break away.
"Wrapped Man" 1973 - a film that many remembered only after the failure of the eponymous remake, for which he definitely can say thank you. So, the picture of Robin Hardy is a very original, to some extent wonderful musical detective thriller, measured in the spirit of its time. After all, everything seems to calmly go on as usual, but the flame of passion has already lit and waits, in order to flare up with a culminating flame on the mysterious island of Summeriland. The first spark is the news of the disappearance of a girl from this island. To investigate this incident, Sergeant Neil Hole is sent to the island from the big land. Interviewing the rather strange locals, he realizes that he is dealing with a pagan community who is completely devoted to their religion, and he will not be able to learn anything. Being a Puritan with high moral principles, the hero is overwhelmed by the way of life and customs of the locals who do not recognize death, treat it with no respect and love to arrange orgies and give in to lust. In truth, Hole falls into the society of sexually disturbed lunatics who hide the disappearance of a little girl. For them, this is a common standard of living that the sergeant is unable to understand. All this infuriates him; he tries unsuccessfully to appeal to propriety, to English law, and to the one God of these savages. But his God isn't here. The solitary Christian fiercely opposes the pagans who believe in their laws of nature and existence, honor their gods. Similarly, there are two extreme forms of fanaticism that do neither side any credit. An eternal dispute is brewing: what and who to believe, whose rituals and customs are true? There will never be a right here, let alone a ridiculous conflict for an atheist. But sympathies still fall on the side of the lawyer, because he came not to destroy the established traditions of the islanders and immerse them in his faith, but to search for the missing girl. But what other secrets, hidden from the whole world, he has to learn before he reaches his goal?
The film is really original, it can not be called a horror film in the usual sense, since it does not try to scare anything (unlike the remake, which is replete with all sorts of "BU" from every angle). It shows only the horror of the fact that in the modern developed world similar associations of people are still hidden, who in their minds partially remain primitive, submit to the authority of their leader and, believing in supernatural grace, are ready for the sake of their mythical gods to make sacrifices. Only if the all-powerful head seems to believe in the power of his religion, then usually behind such a crowd of blind believers in the unknown, there are ordinary swindlers, hunting for property initiated in their sectarian pseudo-religion. This is really scary.
The distinctive features of the film primarily include music, it clearly contains Celtic motifs, which once again emphasize the isolation from civilization and the originality of the culture that has developed here. It is under such melodies that the islanders sing obscene songs calling for copulation. Symbolism is not the last place in the film: at every step there are pagan symbols that make it clear once again how faithful people are to their faith, as well as symbols that accompany so much debauchery that has entered into everyday life. Therefore, it was impossible to pass by a rather sweet and pleasant nudity, a little bit of visual depravity reigning on this island. Thus, the desperate search for a child takes place under mockingly cheerful music, amid a variety of amusing material metaphors and impersonations. Meet a wild masquerade, a carnival of conspiring madmen led by the incomparable Christopher Lee. All this resembles a sinister game, the outcome of which clearly does not portend happiness. And all for the sake of a certain sun god, who is essentially indifferent to the curvatures of a group of pathetic people, and all this acting, cruel rituals and unusual paraphernalia, only the fruit of human imagination, fiction and nothing more. Perhaps, these aspects give a special eccentricity to this film, although it is not without some naivety and playfulness.
“Wrapped Man” is a non-standard movie for a patient viewer, ready to understand the terrible meaning and irony of what is happening on the screen, appreciate the mockery of fanatical faith and be rewarded with the final act of what is happening, which remains in memory for a long time.
Summer Island is a small and closed island from large society, since ancient times living according to its own traditions, to know which a stranger is not given. Such an alien person on the island becomes the leading investigation into the disappearance of a little girl Sergeant Howie, who does not even imagine what they will have to face in this seemingly paradise, an earthen fragment near Scotland.
Among the rich in cult horror 70-ies of the 20th century, the film “Waderman” 1973 directed by Robin Hardy managed to become, perhaps, one of the most interesting and famous. Based on the script of Anthony Schaeffer, who wrote such masterpieces as “Game to Wide” and “Murder on the Orient Express”, “The Wavered Man” under its horror-shell hides an abundance of semantic religious and social overtones, touching on themes not only of closed human communities and life within them, with the gradual suppression of the individualism in the name of the good of the commune, but also the themes of the battle of Christian faith with paganism, wild sectarianism, when God as such is replaced, becoming a substrate and an instrument of influence. However, all this serious and heavy theme is hidden by Robin Hardy behind the elements of satirical horror and caustic irony, pierced by eroticism and only in the finale “The Wicker Man” acquires a gloomy macabre color, becoming a really horror.
Playing actors pleases with its persuasiveness. Edward Woodward played the role of Sergeant Howie honed and filigree, creating an image of a man faced with forces that become a test of his morality and faith. Good and Christopher Lee as the creepy Lord Summeryle, whose inner strength is felt from the first moment of the meeting. Also, the film was decorated with excellent play Britt Ekland and Ingrid Pitt.
The camera work of Harry Waxman perfectly creates a contrast in the picture with its juicy and rich landscapes, against which all this colorful hellish kaleidoscope of orgies and substituted religious constants is created.
The amazing atmosphere in the picture is created by composers Paul Giovanni and Gary Carpenter, powerfully enveloping it and perfectly merging with a bright video sequence.
To all fans of classic horror films and simply interesting and non-trivial cinema, I recommend this, without a doubt, a cult film and I think there will be no disappointment.
10 out of 10
In the early 70s, Italian giallo struck the whole world in a conditional struggle for leadership in the field of "horror". American cinema is far behind, filmmakers from other countries too. However, in the years when Dario Argento, Sergio Martino, Aldo Lado and Mario Bava created their masterpieces, one film stands out. This is the British "Waited Man."
In fact, there is nothing surprising or mystical about the “Wrapped Man”. Strictly speaking, this is a dystopia. The clash of two civilizations: Celtic and modern Christian, enlightened rationality and pagan superstitions.
The creators of the picture proceeded from the assumption that pagan rites were preserved on one of the cold rocky British islands. The structure of society is fundamentally different from ours. In addition to strange rituals, there are also sacrifices.
An English police officer arrives to investigate the disappearance of a young girl. Step by step, he plunges into the fact that behind the external resemblance to modernity, the inhabitants of the island remained in the distant wild past.
I think this movie came out on time. After all, the success of the “maniac” films of the 70s was not associated with the concern of viewers with mental disorders of the population.
The fact that there was a request that the threat may lurk in the society itself. So, maniacs, sectarians and druids (who also saw danger) were very useful.
Returning to the picture, I note a modest and concise narrative style that fully corresponds to the landscapes of the island. Playing actors is simple and easy. Britt Ekland is expectedly sexy, Christopher Lee is brutal, and Edward Woodward is simple and short-sighted.
In my opinion, the film was overrated, because in the early 70s there were several very strong films on a similar topic. Even Joan Fontaine's The Witches (1966) looks at least as good. Meanwhile, the film is shot at a high level and its regular hits in the tops of the best horror films are quite justified.
In the end: Some call the theme raised in the picture - ethno-horror, and I would call - "clash of civilizations". In fact, the film makes us think about the same thing as Ruggero Deodato’s “Cannibal Hell.” I’m closer to the picture of Deodato, but “Wrapped man” is a very decent, concise and understandable film.
8 out of 10
For a very long time postponed watching this film, and when I finally watched, I realized that if I did not see it, I probably would not have lost anything. Thought... Nope. It was worth it for overall development. The film is relatively cult, and for its time is a masterpiece of the horror industry.
It just seemed ridiculous to me, the development of events – sometimes crumpled, and Sergeant Howie, I confess honestly, did not cause me any sympathy or sympathy.
Yes, the issue of religion here is quite interesting, and, in general, it is clear that the film is thought out. It feels the spirit of the '70s with the then pressing issues of freedom and the sexual revolution. Landscapes are fascinating, to the music no, no, but I want to listen, and the game of Christopher Lee (for which in general I sat down to watch this picture) as always deserves praise.
I can add that the film remotely reminded me of Stepford Wives and Roman Polanski’s Resident, although it’s a bit different. And despite the fact that in general I did not like the picture, I remember it clearly.
6 out of 10
On account of the 82-year-old director and writer Robin Hardy, in addition to the cult “Wader Man”, only two full-length works, one of which never came out and remained unknown to the viewer, and the other is the second part of a kind of pagan trilogy. “Wrapped Tree”, which looks like a weak caricature against the background of its predecessor, and Hardy’s planned “The Wrath of the Gods” make the director suspect that he is fixated on the Pogan theme. Indeed, the “Writered Man”, who became famous unexpectedly for his creator, affected all his future works and identified themes for his literary quest. This is an amazing atmospheric thriller with musical elements, traditionally called horror, but in fact very far from this concept. The film won the Saturn Prize, a mention in numerous tops and a ridiculous remake that Robin Hardy called a disaster. The naivety and freshness of the narrative, the eccentricity of the songs and the anxiety of the atmosphere make the “Writered Man” mysterious and attractive. But no less attention deserves and the story itself, frightening and funny at the same time, somewhat atypical for its time.
Together with Sergeant Neil Howie - an impeccable Christian, an honest man and a childishly naive adult - we get acquainted with the strange isolated world of Summeriland. The purpose of the visit is to search for the missing girl, who soon turn into trouble for the officer, because he is not welcome here. Summer Island is not just a forgotten place. The Lord was banished from the island because all its inhabitants were pagans who had built a very different society in which Christian norms and even British laws were no longer valid. Here it is considered the norm to jump naked over a fire, swallow frogs and tie the umbilical cord to the graves. This is stronger and more unexpected than anything that the protagonist Puritan is used to, because it has a natural origin and is directly related to the culture of the Celts. With its atmosphere of virgin nature, a sense of the presence of primitive forces that can not be understood, the film is close to another mystery of the 70s - "Picnic at Hanging Rock". And the story of modern pagans, observing millennial customs and rituals, makes you remember about other “shadows of forgotten ancestors” – the Andes, semi-savage tribes of Africa and, of course, the Hutsuls, sung by Kotsyubinsky and Parajanov.
The main conflict of the “Writered Man” is the confrontation between paganism and Christianity, the lifestyle of the ordinary British and the sun-worshipping community. His images appear in the film repeatedly, and the bright final scene with a huge red disc seems to imply that the deity favors the islanders, that he is on their side, while the Christian Howie finds no support from his God. A legitimate question arises: which of the religions is true - the one that united people and gave them a harvest, or the one that deprived the main character of simple carnal joys and squeezed in the clutches of morality. In both cases, we see extremes, two examples of fanatical faith, and Hardy does not support either side, although at first glance it seems that it is not the Gentiles who are right, but the sergeant. The representative of the law, completely disenfranchised on the island, is opposed to the all-powerful ruler - Lord Summeryle and his unlimited influence on the people. And free and liberated Willow appears to be the complete opposite of Howie with his strange attitude to sex for an adult man.
"You've all gone mad here!" the sergeant exclaims in desperation. But we all go crazy sometimes. And it is not clear who is more insane - the pagans with their strange habits of copulation in front of everyone, obscene songs and fanatical cruelty, or the main character who alone went to an unknown place and tried to reason with the islanders. In fact, long before the fateful journey, he assumed the role of a martyr, while approaching Jesus Christ. And perhaps the world needs that sacrifice for faith, belief, and the future. Everyone wants to change the world, but nobody wants to die.
And someone has to climb the fire.
Police Inspector Howie arrives on a small island near Scotland to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a local girl. Local residents profess a strange pagan cult based on debauchery and wild rites. Howie is faced with a complete and general reluctance to help find the child, and soon discovers that everyone around him is lying unscrupulously. Moreover, the religious rituals of the islanders are far from harmless.
“Wrapped Man” is included in the list of the best 500 horror films in the history of world cinema according to the IMDB website, but to feel the indisputable belonging of the picture of Robin Hardy to horror, it must be reviewed to the end. This unique movie not only has one of the most impressive endings of all time, but is also a virtuoso mix of several genres, of which “scary” manifests itself only at the end of the story. “Wrapped Man” does not fit into any standard framework of any genre canons, whether it is a thriller, drama, musical or detective, but looks like a hodgepodge made so original and original that there is simply no second such film. Before watching, you need to be ready for an author’s film, far from the standard horror film, capable of causing bewilderment from what is happening on the screen, but if you sincerely imbue yourself with the unique style of storytelling, then you will almost certainly enjoy and mentally include “The Wicker Man” in the list of the most amazing films that you have seen in your life.
For most of the timekeeping, Hardy's tape seems to be an ironic detective, intertwined with an erotic musical that portends nothing terrible. Sergeant Howie diligently conducts the investigation, and the islanders simply mock him, all as one giving false testimony, while also singing indecent songs and chatting on every corner. The picture is perceived as infinitely detached from reality, in which everything that happens is a cheerful prank of an hapless policeman. Yes, the residents are obsessed with some religious-pagan nonsense, but they are all so harmless, funny and lustful, just like some hippies. However, during viewing, it is important not to forget that in fact this is really a thriller, and the cult, and in the finale it will become clear that this story actually exists.
It is impossible to spoil in the review on the “Writered Man” categorically, since to tell what the essence of the story in this case is as criminal in relation to the viewer as to give the finale of Shyamalan’s “Sixth Sense”. But in order to outline the idea of the film to those lucky people who have not yet watched it, it is worth mentioning the religious orientation of the story. What is religion in its essence? This is a special form of perception of the surrounding world, in the correctness of which people unconditionally believe and strictly correct its dogmas, as the truth in the last resort. In the modern world, there are several generally accepted forms of religion, such as Christianity or Judaism, whose divine laws are followed by millions of civilized people. But what if there were unique religious forms of their own, even within a small island of a few hundred inhabitants living by their own laws, civil and divine, who don’t care about the rules of the rest of the world? Should this bunch of people be considered lunatics, libertines and criminals just because they have their own truth and their own God? Probably not, but only so long as all their strange deeds do not go beyond the shores of a small island and concern only Aboriginal people, not some Sergeant Howie.
“The woven man” is an erotic, ironic, extraordinary and eerie film, which is worth watching for all fans of unusual pictures, shot not for the sake of satisfying the ordinary needs and stereotyped tastes of the mass audience, but showing how amazing cinema can be, including terrible.
Good movies, like good liquors, must endure. This is confirmed by the English “Wader Man”, underrated and forgotten, spoiled by an unsuccessful Hollywood remake, but only gaining actual charm.
Sgt. Howie receives an anonymous letter about the disappearance of a 12-year-old girl from the remote Scottish island of Summeryland. Howie goes there by seaplane and from the first minutes is faced with the cold distrust of the locals. They do nothing wrong, but they do not hide their hostility.
The island is run by Lord Summerisle, played by Christopher Lee. It turns out that he is at the head of a community practicing an ancient pagan religion. A kind of hypertrophied "Greenpeace": children of flowers, bushes and other plants and animals. Sex education in the style of the sweetest dreams of 6-graders, dancing naked at the moon, erotic rites. It is clear that Christian Howie is starting to go crazy. "Why are the girls jumping naked over the fire?" he shouts in hysterics to the lord. “Because it’s dangerous to wear clothes,” Summerisle said. And who's right about that?
Another brilliant scene is when a young girl named Iva seduces a police officer through a wall. By the way, they say that actress Britt Ekland agreed to nude only to the waist. The director did not argue, but without the knowledge of Britt for full nudity invited a double. Eckland, of course, freaked out, to which she was answered: "The fool herself."
The policeman then falls into a stupor, then searches the island in search of the missing girl. He even finds her grave and a rabbit corpse in her coffin. But what does that give him? The atmosphere around his person thickens, the vortices of the enemy blow over him, the dark forces oppress viciously. Especially impressive is the credibility of what is happening. And also the horror that can catch up with innocent country songs.
Towards the end of the story, detective à la Twin Peaks makes a twist and turns into a lavish religious-themed thriller. Howie is unable to understand the aspirations of the pagans. The islanders, in turn, would like to solve the problem of the failure of the apple harvest by the old-fashioned method. I won't reveal the final. Maybe someone doesn't know him. But the spectacle is grandiose, and the aftertaste is persistent.
Saturn Award in 1979 in the nomination “Best horror film” can be considered an incident. As well as the fact that in the United States the picture was rolled by the main master of the film category “B” Roger Corman. The film is outside genre conventions and categories. It's a must-see.