MovieChat Forums > The Wicker Man (1974) Discussion > (SPOILERS) A letter was sent from the is...

(SPOILERS) A letter was sent from the island SPECIFICALLY to Sgt Howie

posted 4 years ago by [deleted]
6 replies | jump to latest

I wonder how many of Lord Summerisle's people were on the mainland, watching and observing him, before they decided he would be ideal for their sacrifice, as a complete virgin and totally against their pagan religion?

I would imagine the harbour scene, where Howie arrives on the plane, was just the start. They initially refused to send the dinghy, but their suspicions were confirmed when he persisted that they had the right man. From the moment Howie set foot onto the island, he was doomed. Then, they just had to make sure he couldn't escape, had fun with him, mucking him about with Rowan Morrison is alive/is dead/is not on the island over and over again until the day of the sacrifice came.

[–] Ace_Spade (9547) 4 years ago

The scariest thing about the film is the quasi-hive-mind the islanders have. They're all in agreement always, and they're single-minded in this weird, screw-job they're putting to Howie. They could have done all sorts of things to keep him on the island, but they mess with him. They get in his head. It's unsettling.

I think the single eeriest thing, though, is thinking about how okay they all are with the ritual at the end. Howie tells them the truth of it, the meaning of their actions, and what it will make them, and they just sing and chant and do the ritual. Think about it this way: it's only been a few generations, they're peaceful and everything's going well, but then when told they have to do this, all of them are just 100% in. Maybe those that were waffling got "dealt with", but it seems like they were just all a-okay with that heinous act.

[–] AP (5288) 3 years ago

I always wondered that too. How did they know he was a virgin or that he’d react the right way? They had to have been watching him for some time.

[–] animal0mother (35) 2 years ago

A 42-year-old virgin.
Nowadays one would question if he's even engaged if he's starved that long at a buffet.

[–] FootOfDavros (8174) a year ago

They should make a prequel in which the previous target succumbs to Willow's Song and the whole plan is scuppered...

[–] AP (5288) a year ago

That would be kinda funny. They find some young virgin dude to sacrifice but when she dances next door, he shows up and she awkwardly has sex with him, knowing their plan was foiled by her sexiness.

[–] CalvinJarrett (451) a year ago

Only problem with that is the same problem with all prequels ... you know how it ends, and halfway through you wonder what the value is in watching it in the first place. Only reason to watch a prequel of Wicker Man (1973) is to see a nude Britt Eckland have awkward sex with the young virgin dude.