The Wicker Man 1974

As the seaplane touches down on the lush, emerald Isle of Summerisle, Sergeant Neil Howie (played by) steps into an unfamiliar world, where ancient customs reign supreme. The devout Christian’s mission is to unravel the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Rowan Morrison, a young girl whose existence has been called into question by a cryptic anonymous letter. As he delves deeper into the island’s mystique, Howie is taken aback by the Islanders’ unbridled reverence for their Celtic forebears. The verdant fields become a stage for ritualistic copulation, children are inducted into the May Day festivities, and the maypole’s phallic symbolism is openly taught to the young. Meanwhile, the islanders seem hell-bent on thwarting his investigation, insisting that Rowan never breathed the island air.

As he settles into the rustic Green Man Inn, Howie finds himself besieged by advances from the landlord’s daughter, but his resolve remains unshaken, fueled by his commitment to his soon-to-be bride. His gaze falls upon a series of photographs chronicling the island’s annual harvest celebrations, each one featuring a young girl crowned May Queen. The most recent installment is conspicuously absent, replaced by an air of mystery surrounding its disappearance – the landlord’s hasty explanation that it was broken only adds to the intrigue.

As Howie ventures into the local school, he encounters students who seem more interested in denying Rowan’s existence than learning their lessons. His persistence eventually yields a breakthrough when he uncovers the truth: Rowan’s name is listed on the school register, but her grave site reveals a shocking secret – or rather, a lack thereof. The schoolteacher’s directions lead Howie to a haunting discovery that sets him on a collision course with the island’s leader, Lord Summerisle (played by).

On the morrow, 30 April, Howie meets with Lord Summerisle, a descendant of a Victorian agronomist who cultivated strains of fruit trees capable of thriving in Scotland’s unforgiving climate. As they discuss the terms for an exhumation, Summerisle reveals that his ancestor’s innovations sparked a resurgence in pagan practices, as the islanders came to believe that their ancient gods would bless the land with prosperity. With each passing year, the harvests grew bountiful, and the inhabitants of the island gradually surrendered to the allure of paganism.

As Howie exhumes the grave, he is met with an unsettling sight: a coffin containing only the lifeless remains of a hare. The photograph he had been searching for – that of the last harvest celebration – materializes, revealing Rowan standing amidst empty boxes, a stark reminder of the failed crop. His research unravels a dark truth: when the harvests fail, a human sacrifice is offered to appease the gods, and Howie realizes that Rowan’s disappearance is merely a ruse. He concludes that she is alive, poised on the precipice of being sacrificed to ensure a successful harvest – and that the clock is ticking.

As May Day dawns on the isolated Summerisle, Howie (actor’s name) finds himself trapped in a predicament of his own making. His seaplane, once a lifeline to the mainland, now lies useless and silent, its radio reduced to mere silence. The irony is not lost on him as he surveys the damage, realizing that he is now cut off from the outside world with no means to call for help.

Later that day, as the islanders gather for their May Day celebration, Howie seizes an opportunity in disguise. Donning the attire of Punch, the fool, he infiltrates the parade and eventually comes face-to-face with Rowan (actor’s name), whose true identity is finally revealed. With a mixture of desperation and cunning, Howie frees Rowan from her predicament and flees with her into the safety of a nearby cave.

However, their temporary reprieve is short-lived, as they are soon confronted by the islanders, who welcome Rowan back with open arms. As it becomes increasingly clear that Howie’s presence on the island has been nothing more than a ruse to ensnare him, Summerisle reveals the shocking truth: Rowan was never intended to be the sacrifice; Howie himself is the true target.

The gods of the island have deemed him worthy, fulfilling their four requirements: he came to the island of his own accord, wields the power of authority as a representative of the law, is a virgin in every sense, and has fallen prey to their deception. Despite his warnings that the crops will continue to wither away due to the unfavorable climate, and that the villagers will eventually turn on Summerisle and sacrifice him next summer when the harvest fails again, Howie’s words fall on deaf ears.

As the islanders prepare to exact their revenge, they force Howie into a massive wicker man statue alongside various animals. The statue is set ablaze, surrounded by the chanting of “Sumer Is Icumen In”, and as the flames engulf the structure, Howie recites Psalm 23 and makes a final plea to a higher power for deliverance. As the wicker man collapses in flames, its head tumbling into the inferno like a fiery halo, Howie meets his demise alongside the animals, consumed by the very fire that had once threatened to destroy him.