While watching this, I got the feeling that Willow and her dad were trying to save him. First her trying to seduce him, then the thing with the hand of glory, and the disappointed look on her father's face when he woke up tied up and his costume gone.
shareMaybe. I'm not sure if Willow was trying to save Howie or simply determining his suitability as a sacrifice, but her father does seem to be the only one not in on the whole thing (he's just a bartender, and, as Lord Summerisle implies, has a habit of getting drunk at his own bar).
shareNo, they were not trying to save them. It was part of the plan, he had to be a virgin, he had to be fool and king for the day, which is the costume he stole. Everything they did they did on purpose, her trying to seduce him was making sure he was chaste.
sharethey knew the hand of glory wouldn't work but deliberatly talked like it would work within hearing range of Howie so he would think they wanted him out of the way so he couldn't interfere which would make him want to interfere more and go to the place of sacrifice of his own accord
shareeggamus: Exactly right.
shareLook how Willow acts when Howie is captured. She was more than happy to burn him. It was all an act. Even her attempts to seduce him were probably a spiteful ploy to make him go back on his beliefs.
She and the Librarian seemed the most willing and eager to sacrifice Howie at the end.
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I don't think the deception went that deeply.
Perhaps will was testing his chastity, but I think the Hand o' Glory was for real.
It was insurance: If he'd been asleep, it would've kept Howie out of their hair 'til it was time to prep him for the sacrifice. If not, Papa Willow was the pawn they'd sacrifice to ensure he would be there.
I'm sure Lord Summerisle could tell right away that it wasn't the real Punch in that costume.
I did like the twist at the end.
Watch the Kermode short about the background of this film. It'll reignite your interest in it. Esp. if you haven't seen the original, longer version of it. Roger Corman saved the day!
https://youtu.be/5ybJao7VeAk
The thing that bothers me is...
Had he not decided to go for a nap... Things could of gone differently.
Secondly... How did they know it was hin behind the costume.
Assuming the policeman did not hit the bar tender and took his clothers... And decided not to spy on them... Would have they burnt the girl still? It would of ruined their plans... Assuming Plan A was the policeman and Plan B was the girl all along...
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There's certainly some ambiguity at play.
We know the entire village was in on the plan and yet the father getting knocked out was not something he expected.
Also where do all their May Day outfits go between the time he frees and runs off with Rowan and when they catch up with him? 🤷