The Wicker Man (1973) with Tom Foley

Summoned to a remote island off the coast of Scotland by a report claiming a young girl, Rowan Morrison, has gone missing, West Highland Constabulary Sergeant Neil Howie finds himself far from any reality he’s ever known, due to the strange customs and people of the island, called Summerisle. A god-fearing, Christian man in every way, Howie is put off, then shocked by the the island’s free-thinking, sexually explicit ways. He refuses the advances of Willow, a landlord’s daughter, and threatens to arrest Miss Rose, a schoolteacher, for discussing phallic symbols. Summerisle, Howie comes to understand, believes only in gods of fertility, and pagan ways, as overseen by Lord Summerisle, a tall, imposing chap with a fantastic house and even snappier wardrobe. When no one can seem to recall having met or seen Rowan, Howie’s investigation leads down a series of increasingly strange dead ends. And as May Day approaches, he becomes increasingly convinced that he has become the subject of a bizarre, dangerous game. Intro, Math Club, and Debate Society (spoiler-free) 0:00-18:05 Honor Roll and Detention (spoiler-heavy) 18:06-55:11 Superlatives (so. many. spoilers.) 55:12-1:13:11 Director Robin Hardy Screenplay Anthony Shaffer Featuring Diane Cilento, Britt Ekland, Christopher Lee, Ingrid Pitt, Edward Woodward Tom Foley is an award-winning filmmaker. He has helmed national TV commercials for iconic brands like Nike, Harley Davidson, and Burger King, and recently created branded content films for Tito’s Vodka and the Alzheimer’s Association. Tom’s work keys on human emotion — from narrative comedy to heartfelt documentary storytelling. Always presenting a strong visual point of view, Tom emphasizes the unique humanity of his subjects. Tom is currently represented by Element Productions (Boston/LA) and is a member of the Directors Guild of America. Learn more about Tom at www.tomfoley.tv. Our theme music is by Sir Cubworth, with embellishments by Edward Elgar.  Music from “The Wicker Man” by Paul Giovanni.     For more information on this film, the pod, essays from your hosts, and other assorted bric-a-brac, visit our website, scareupod.com. Please subscribe to this podcast via Apple or Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.  If you like what you hear, please leave us a 5-star rating.     Join our Facebook group. Follow us on Instagram.