The Deeper Meaning of The Wicker Man

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  • Опубликовано: 3 ноя 2024

Комментарии • 69

  • @briane80
    @briane80 4 месяца назад +17

    One of the most important occult aspects of this film is the confusion and mystery howie is subjected too throughout his stay at the island. The scenes and songs presented to him serve a purpose - the alchemical processing of his soul for the ritual sacrifice. They deliberately tempt him with the landlord's daughter, so that he would refuse of his own free will, but in doing so he makes himself a more worthy sacrifice. The false invesigation of the missing girl, the pagan rituals, the graveyard with the broken altar present a clown-like, grinning mockery of him and as a show of power and macabre arrogance.

    • @FrankDeleon-fe8cu
      @FrankDeleon-fe8cu 4 месяца назад +1

      I knew he was doomed after several viewings. After he eats the pork chops and turquoise colored beans. Which match the moss colored rocks on edge of the water. But he was really doomed when the two police officers were ridiculing him for being pics and sexually negligent towards his wife. This was a setup from the word go. I believe from his fellow officers. Also their paganism is absolutely identical to the method of sacrifice of the Canaanite god Molech. Several chambers for animals crops and then the main chamber for the child or innocent person. In this instance the police officer. Who ignorance strips him of his innocence. The moment he stepped foot on that Island he was doomed. Because he's investigating a false and non perpetuated crime. The further in he goes the more he's entangled. This movie is absolute malevolent genius

    • @MelancoliaI
      @MelancoliaI 29 дней назад +2

      Yeah the whole 'procession' to the sacrificial site is where the most alchemical imagery is I guess. And like throughout history it's hidden in plain sight such as the 'feast of fools' type pageantry. Coulda used more bees tho

    • @babybojanglesjr
      @babybojanglesjr 24 дня назад

      @@MelancoliaInot the bees

  • @3Mhcope
    @3Mhcope 2 месяца назад +10

    "The Wicker Man," is one of my favorite horror films along with, "Rosemary's Baby." I find your analysis interesting, but i came away with a much different understanding. To me, the film is about the destructive nature of fundamentalist faith whether it be fundamentalist Christianity or a fundamentalist form of paganism. If you see the director's cut/extended cut of the film, there is a sequence at the start of the film where Howie interacts with some of the police officers under his leadership, and he is presented as someone who is almost intolerable to work with. He is all about laws and rules against dancing and pleasure and the officers under his leadership state that they cannot understand what his fiancee, Mary sees in him because he is so prudish stating that Mary will find herself more often, "On her knees in prayer rather than on her back in bed." When making rounds with the officers, they come across the message, "Jesus Saves," spray painted on a wall and one of the officers says, "Well, here now is a message for us all," and Howie says, "Aye, Aye, but there is a time and a place for everything. Have it removed." Howie seems blinded by his fundamentalist faith and his obsession with rules and laws. There isn't any flexibility or grace in his mindset. Lord Summerisle is just as rigid in the literal interpretation of the pagan symbolism that he uses to encourage his followers on the island. He takes the ideas of sacrifice and death and rebirth as literal instead of seeing them as symbolic of the natural life cycle and the seasons. He disregards Howie's comments about the soil on the island not being ideal for produce and instead chooses to believe that a literal sacrifice may bring back the crops that failed the year before. Basically, you have a conflict between two types of fundamentalists.

  • @dannyd1098
    @dannyd1098 Месяц назад +4

    🎶 and on that grave, there was a tree...
    The graves in this movie have trees planted on top of them! Pretty cool and peculiar consistency there, i thought

  • @123Andersonev
    @123Andersonev 4 месяца назад +13

    No, in paganism the gods don't demand sacrifice, or at least not in the traditional sense, the gods are aspects of nature and existence, paganism is agrarian and thus based on agriculture and the seasonal cycles, sacrifice comes about as a result of the situation of the time, if you've had a bad harvest and there is not enough food to feed the tribe to get everyone through winter to spring then someone has to go, either alone to face the elements (possibly coming back to rob the tribes food store) or through sacrifice for the tribes benefit, the cremation aspect is because Celts understood that potash acts as a fertiliser and in this respect the act of dying is seen as returning to the underworld to repeat the cycle of life all over again.

  • @arielilijeva3019
    @arielilijeva3019 Год назад +24

    But there are actually several self-sacrificing gods in mythology? For example, the Aztec belief system was pretty much based around that. I am not an advocate of human sacrifice of any type, but willing self-sacrifice has also been practiced by humans with basically the same intent as the crucifixion in Christianity - for the good of humanity.
    While Howie’s fate is horrifying, The Wicker Man is not pro-Christian. It is deliberate in not taking sides.

    • @ThorogoodFilms
      @ThorogoodFilms  Год назад +3

      Interesting take! Could you give me some names of self-sacrificing gods? I'd love to investigate that.

    • @Flippy_Nips
      @Flippy_Nips Год назад +1

      Except, the crucifixion of Christ stands apart. There is no equivalent in any other belief system.

    • @mor4439
      @mor4439 5 месяцев назад +1

      @@ThorogoodFilmsnot sure if you’ll read this but Xipe totec comes to mind as well as Odin’s hanging of himself on Yggdrassil

    • @ThorogoodFilms
      @ThorogoodFilms  5 месяцев назад

      @@mor4439 Ooh interesting!

    • @Malt454
      @Malt454 5 месяцев назад +4

      Everyone's entitled to their own beliefs, but the idea that, within the film, Howie's faith is somehow the ultimate truth or reality is misplaced. The islanders have their faith, Howie has his, but the only reality that's presented is that a man is burned to death in a wicker cage. If anything, the movie is a commentary about the extremes that people will go to over religion based on no real evidence; Howie's faith isn't presented as triumphant, only different from those below.

  • @anonymouswitness3835
    @anonymouswitness3835 Месяц назад +2

    Liked this! I know many viewers are sympathetic to the pagans, and the film itself is attempting to be unbiased, but I did feel that Christianity comes out the moral victor, if not the physical victor. The question (which the film doesn't answer) hinges on that last qualification -- is Howie a holy fool, or just a dead one?

  • @lovemussb1940
    @lovemussb1940 Год назад +6

    The league of gentlemen done a funny sketch about weird villagers just like this 👍🏼

  • @conscienceaginBlackadder
    @conscienceaginBlackadder Месяц назад +1

    It's no good what will happen on the far side of death if first you will experience the extreme horror of burning. It's no good calling out confidently to a God who won't or can't make you die instantly before that happens. As is one of the refutations of the extremist hell-believing versions of Christianity, there is no equivalence of horror at all between crucifixion and burning !

  • @mlunaID
    @mlunaID Год назад +3

    Thank you for producing this. Thoughtful and concise. Do you have a preference over the cut of the film (i.e., final cut, theatrical cut)?

    • @ThorogoodFilms
      @ThorogoodFilms  Год назад

      Ah thank you! I believe I've only seen the theatrical cut, I'd be intrigued to see the final cut :)

    • @mlunaID
      @mlunaID Год назад

      @@ThorogoodFilms the same here. I've seen the Theatrical cut for the first time recently. I was impressed by how streamlined the storytelling is - but others seem to favor the final cut - which I have yet to see myself.
      I appreciated your assessment of the film. I share a lot of your sentiments and philosophy. It's a rare gem of a film. Interesting how some of the hardest horror films have the most to say about faith.

    • @ThorogoodFilms
      @ThorogoodFilms  Год назад

      @@mlunaID That's wonderful to hear, thank you! If you have any suggestions for films to cover on the channel, let me know!

  • @fishbear2961
    @fishbear2961 3 месяца назад +2

    They where just singing their own version of The Rattling Bog lol

  • @gordkennedy1059
    @gordkennedy1059 4 месяца назад +1

    I watched wicker man for the first time a few days ago.
    Still a really unique and gripping film.
    I've found with these films about cults a running theme is the horror of indoctrination whether it be religious, social, political or economical.
    How people can abandon humanity and reason under isolation and influence.
    What makes the end scene so disturbing to me is how joyful the islanders are watching Neil burn alive. They're completely indoctrinated, warped and lacking empathy in the belief that what they are doing is good.
    What drives that fear home is knowing that humans are proven to be susceptible to doing horrific things without question under strong influence.
    The holocaust, genocides and war in general are examples of this.
    But there's also a strong resemblance between niels religious beliefs and the pagans.
    Lord summerisle and niel are both products of religious indoctrination.
    They are both unquestioning in thier devout loyalty to thier gods and both of thier religions have driven humans to spill blood and make sacrifices in the name of thier God.

    • @markmillard7191
      @markmillard7191 2 месяца назад +1

      The difference is that Howie isn't out to kill anyone.

    • @conscienceaginBlackadder
      @conscienceaginBlackadder Месяц назад

      It includes humans' willingness to like this film !
      Then to like the emotionally savage alternative comedy of the 80s-90s and buy the idea that its message was progressive !

  • @loganhavenga1920
    @loganhavenga1920 11 месяцев назад +3

    I enjoyed the video, strongly disagreed with some points and strongly agreed with some points, thank you. That is the beauty of opinions or/and convictions without, hopefully, judgement. will be watching in the future. good luck sure you'll do quite well.

    • @ThorogoodFilms
      @ThorogoodFilms  11 месяцев назад

      Thank you so much for your comment, means a lot!

  • @MrBulbasaurlover
    @MrBulbasaurlover 21 день назад

    You say some have trouble finding your channel, you will be delighted to know that this is the first video that came up when I typed in "Wicker Man analysis."

  • @erikthewriter
    @erikthewriter 4 месяца назад +3

    The bible is full of sacrifices demanded by god himself.

    • @ThorogoodFilms
      @ThorogoodFilms  4 месяца назад +3

      And they were all pointing to his own sacrifice. Hebrews 10...
      4 It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
      5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:
      “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
      but a body you prepared for me;
      6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings
      you were not pleased.
      7 Then I said, ‘Here I am-it is written about me in the scroll-
      I have come to do your will, my God.’”
      8 First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”-though they were offered in accordance with the law. 9 Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
      11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. 14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

  • @williameggleton414
    @williameggleton414 9 дней назад

    Aren't the townsfolk also making a mockery of Christianity itself with their "opposite" beliefs compared to Christ, Noah and God himself, which is a sin of no words to describe?

  • @reliablebow
    @reliablebow 12 дней назад

    Thank you ✨🕯️

  • @somthingbrutal
    @somthingbrutal Год назад +2

    i would be interested in your opinion on Ken Russel's The Devils.

    • @ThorogoodFilms
      @ThorogoodFilms  Год назад +1

      Ah great shout, thanks! Will give it a watch

  • @peterflashman8100
    @peterflashman8100 7 месяцев назад +3

    Great video. There was a proposed sequel to the wicker man called the loathsome lambton worm. The rejected 30 page screenplay from 1989 was made into an audio story in 2020. Its available on youtube. Its much more supernatural and places Howee (who is rescued from the wickerman) against lord summerisle in several challenges.

  • @toobar908
    @toobar908 10 месяцев назад +7

    weak is the man who requires that his god dies for his sins

  • @a.wolfgang6423
    @a.wolfgang6423 Год назад +19

    When a conserve gets to pride island

  • @MauriceCox-d9q
    @MauriceCox-d9q 4 месяца назад +1

    Classic

  • @somthingbrutal
    @somthingbrutal Год назад +2

    the old testament god didn't mind an animal sacrifice though. and in that one story at least one of his followers was willing to sacrifice his son

    • @ThorogoodFilms
      @ThorogoodFilms  Год назад +3

      But God was sure to intervene to protect Isaac. That was to test Abraham's faith in the promise of God that he would have many descendants. And wonderfully it points to the cross; God himself did not withhold his only Son, and through the death of Jesus we may have life. I talk a bit about the animal sacrifices in my Saw video: ruclips.net/video/Rri35d9eMF4/видео.html

    • @somthingbrutal
      @somthingbrutal Год назад +3

      @@ThorogoodFilms but issac didn't know that nor did his father

    • @ThorogoodFilms
      @ThorogoodFilms  Год назад +2

      @@somthingbrutal Absolutely. It is shocking! But Abraham knew that God was good, even if the command seemed inexplicable in the moment

    • @somthingbrutal
      @somthingbrutal Год назад

      @@ThorogoodFilms and his son grew up knowing that his dad was willing to kill him. not a great dad a great dad would have told god no

    • @Tyler_W
      @Tyler_W Год назад +2

      Human sacrifice was still fairly common at the time. It was considered the ultimate offering of devotion to one's deity. It wasn't strange to Abraham to be asked this to test his loyalty and trust, but the end of the story makes it pretty clear how God reveals himself as someone who opposes the idea of human sacrifice. Abraham proved his worth, and God revealed more of his character by putting himself in contrast with many of the other pagan deities that encouraged human sacrifice of one's children for divine favor.
      There's something interesting a lot of people miss from the Old Testament. The further into the Old Testament you get, you have God confessing that he was never really interested in animal sacrifice. It was a practice done pretty much everywhere in some form or another, and God seems to imply that he allowed it in order to accomplish the greater goal of establishing their relationship and because it was effectively something the Israelites needed for their own peace of mind. God said that he instead was more interested in what the sacrifice was intended to elicit in the one making the offering. He's more interested in humility, contrition for wrongdoing, and to live righteously, particularly by being just in our dealings with others. In the eyes of God, sacrificing others for pereonal gain is evil, and there is no greater expression of love than self-sacrifice for the good of others.

  • @catshepherd3102
    @catshepherd3102 5 месяцев назад +1

    But of course, the Pagan knows - to actually sacrifice a human being brings all kinds of bad joss, because of the Threefold Law. And to the Pagan, it’s all about energy and intention. The ritual would have been completed by dressing an effigy in the Punch Fool costume that Sergeant Howie wore and putting that in the Wicker Man, because the costume absorbed his desire to solve the puzzle - and it was in the May Day parade, so it absorbed the villagers’ intentions too.
    “What? Oh no, no, no, not _you_ sir! But don’t worry, we brought a robe for you to wear instead. Then we’ll go back to the pub, collect your uniform and suitcase and send you on your way! Thanks for participating and hope you learnt a thing or two!”

    • @anonymouswitness3835
      @anonymouswitness3835 Месяц назад

      All forms of neopaganism are going to be reconstructions, and therefore different from whatever the original practice was in some way. And the paganism in The Wicker Man IS neopaganism -- Summerisle has not had an unbroken tradition of Celtic paganism. Lord Summerisle's father built it from what fragments remain (and from pieces of the Golden Bough, it seems). It's not meant to be historical Celtic paganism at all.

  • @nigeldonaldson1647
    @nigeldonaldson1647 4 месяца назад

    "cooking videos" ha ha ha
    I jumped the gun admittedly in the end youve answered my question, I almost admire your audacity, what next?
    BEN HUR, LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST, GLADIATOR,THE RISEN, you tube is a place for- Entertainment & public information, unbiased

  • @claydogg234
    @claydogg234 5 месяцев назад +1

    I didn't get nearly as hopeful a vibe as you did from the video. To me the film reflects the emptiness of faith and its powerlessness against humanity in certain instances. And quite frankly I'd prefer a movie where pagans are the good guys given all the bullshit Christianity has wrought on this world. Howie should have given up his faith and embraced the raw humanity of the island.

  • @wodensol5000
    @wodensol5000 Год назад +5

    Didnt expect this movie review to turn into 'paganism bad'. Did you even watch the movie and catch what was actually being said about the core pagan teners? All of the weird shit is a more radicalised version of paganism, neo-paganism is generally a lot better. Just like how old testament vs new testament is very different.

    • @ThorogoodFilms
      @ThorogoodFilms  Год назад +3

      Thanks for your comment! Apologies if that's how it came across. I guess I'm trying to say that what's depicted in the film is horrifying. How reflective it is of actual paganism (which is a very broad category) is almost beside the point. I personally see massive continuity between the Old and New Testament, with the same character of God throughout.

    • @hotties3v3n
      @hotties3v3n 10 месяцев назад

      It is bad, but believe what you believe.😇

    • @claydogg234
      @claydogg234 5 месяцев назад +1

      ​@@ThorogoodFilms Honestly I found you got way too sympathetic to Christianity at the end as a lot of us dislike the symbolism of a human sacrifice in the form of Jesus being needed to heal some bs original sin which I know for a fact we don't hold.

  • @1000joesteph
    @1000joesteph 4 месяца назад +1

    Easter is also pegan

  • @davidlynds9483
    @davidlynds9483 2 месяца назад

    Yikes, what a weird, Sunday School like tirade this "review" was

  • @mirjana5514
    @mirjana5514 Год назад +1

    God didnt sacrifice anything, Jesus did. God gave his son thats true, however God can also bring Jesus back to life and there is such a thing as heaven.

    • @ThorogoodFilms
      @ThorogoodFilms  Год назад +1

      Thanks for your comment! That's why Trinity is vital in understanding the cross, and I should have made that clearer in the video. The Father works through the Son by the Holy Spirit. (2 Corinthians 5:19 ...God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them...) So yes, it wasn't the Father on the cross. But the Son, who has always been in the closest relationship with the Father, was. Jesus and the Father are one. You cannot define God without Jesus.

  • @nigeldonaldson1647
    @nigeldonaldson1647 4 месяца назад +1

    can it be you are putting across some religious philosophy & propaganda here?

  • @lumberlikwidator8863
    @lumberlikwidator8863 2 месяца назад

    Officer Neil Howie stirred the pagan pot and in the end he got fried!