The Wicker Man, the acclaimed British horror film with an iconic "feelbad ending", is on television tonight.
The 1973 film depicts the journey of Neil Howie (Edward Woodward), a police officer who travels to the fictional Scottish island of Summerisle in search of a missing girl. As his investigation continues, he begins to notice the locals aren't quite what they seem.
The Wicker Man has unnerved audiences for the past five decades, and viewers now have another chance to watch the frightening film as it airs tonight at 11.50pm on BBC Two.
If you can't catch it then, fret not, as it will be available to stream on BBC iPlayer after its airing tonight.
Co-starring Christopher Lee and Britt Ekland, Robin Hardy's horror is not only regarded as a classic of the genre, but also one of the foremost films in the history of British cinema.
This is reflected in its impressive approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which currently stands at 91% from 66 reviews. In the site's critical consensus, the film was noted for its "intelligent" use of "thrills" and "chills" as its "shocking" and "truly memorable" ending.
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"This gripping occult horror from 1973 - scripted by Anthony Shaffer - is a British golden-oldie," wrote The Guardian. "There is genuine fear in its nightmarish tableaux… And that final sequence, with the eponymous Wicker Man, is inspired."
BBC.com was similarly positive as they called it "bloody scary" as they noted the "downbeat" finale, adding: "It's a [film] that'll burn its way into your unconscious and give you nightmares for many years to come."
"You can't help smiling at the audacity of it all and shivering a little at the feelbad ending," wrote the London Evening Standard (via Rotten Tomatoes), while The Times dubbed it the "grandaddy" of "cerebral horror".
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The Wicker Man was famously – or perhaps infamously – remade in 2006 with Nicolas Cage in the lead role.
Written and directed by Neil LaBute, the widely panned remake is best known for a scene in which the lead character expresses his distaste for a certain animal.
The Wicker Man is airing tonight on BBC Two at 11.50pm, and will be available to stream on BBC iPlayer after broadcast.
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Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media. His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.
