Why The Wicker Man (1973) Is So Good
In Episode 4 (Dying Before You Die) Michael and Jeff discover they both love the movie The Wicker Man. The Wicker Man is a masterclass in blending mystery, horror, and ideas worth confronting. Its brilliance lies in how it subverts expectations at every turn. What begins as a straightforward investigation by a devoutly Christian police officer, Sergeant Neil Howie, quickly spirals into a surreal exploration of belief, power, and sacrifice. We, too, are outsiders to the free-spirited paganism practiced on Summerisle, so we experience this new (or old) world through Sergeant Howie's eyes and, through atmospheric world-building and terrific tension, become immersed in the clash of worldviews at the center of the film. In addition to all this you get Christopher Lee and an ending that is both deeply shocking and deeply satisfying.
But when you're longing for even more dissolution in the face of a reality far greater than yourself, consider these movies for all your memento mori needs. From sunlit rituals to shadowy confrontations, here are ...
10 films that embody the conflict, ego death, and transformation at the heart of The Wicker Man.
1. The Wicker Man (2006)
Yes, it's a remake. Yes, it's divisive and controversial among fans. Where the original was subtle and weird, the remake feels campy and absurd. However, Jeff, seeing this one before knowing there was an original, can attest that it gets the job done. And it's Nicholas Cage.
2. Midsommar (2019)
If The Wicker Man is about masculine ego death, Midsommar is about feminine empowerment through dissolution. Dani's journey takes her from a place of profound loss and isolation to finding belonging in the traditions of a pagan commune. Yet, her empowerment comes at a cost: the gradual unraveling of her previous identity. The film’s sunlit horror and ritualistic imagery echo the primal rhythms of nature, creating a spiritual successor to The Wicker Man.
3. The Witch (2015)
A “New England folktale” of isolation, repression, and the ultimate surrender to the unknown, The Witch explores how the clash between Puritanism and natural forces erodes identity. Thomasin, ostracized by her family and society, embraces the wilderness and its seductive power. Her liberation, while terrifying, reflects a rejection of oppressive structures in favor of a primal connection to the wild.
4. The Green Knight (2021)
This Arthurian tale reimagines the legend of Sir Gawain as a mythic exploration of ego death and the inevitability of fate. Gawain’s journey through a surreal, often hostile landscape forces him to confront his illusions of honor and identity. The film’s cyclical narrative structure and dreamlike visuals tie it to themes of natural order, ritual, and the dissolution of self in the face of mortality.
5. Stalker (1979)
Andrei Tarkovsky’s meditative masterpiece takes place in the mysterious Zone, a place governed by strange, inscrutable rules. The journey to the Zone’s mythical Room—said to fulfill one’s deepest desires—is as much about self-discovery as it is about the characters’ psychological unraveling. The Zone’s otherworldly landscape and the rituals surrounding it make this film a poetic exploration of ego and humanity’s relationship with the unknown.
6. The Endless (2017)
This mind-bending indie gem follows two brothers revisiting the cult they escaped years ago. What begins as a reunion spirals into an exploration of cosmic forces and eternal loops, where ego and identity dissolve into the cycles of time. Like The Wicker Man, it questions the nature of belief, submission, and humanity’s place within an infinite, often indifferent universe.
7. Apocalypse Now (1979)
While not overtly connected to nature or ritual, Apocalypse Now delves into the ego’s destruction through its harrowing journey into the heart of darkness. As Captain Willard ventures deeper into the jungle and Colonel Kurtz’s nihilistic world, the line between civilization and savagery blurs. The primal forces of the jungle mirror the collapse of rationality, authority, and identity.
8. Revolver (2005)
Guy Ritchie’s psychological thriller may seem like an odd choice, but its exploration of ego death makes it a compelling addition. The film follows Jake Green, a con artist embroiled in a mysterious and mind-bending game of power, betrayal, and self-discovery. As Jake confronts the manipulative voices in his head, he embarks on a journey to dismantle his own ego, symbolized as a controlling and destructive force. While lacking the overt natural or ritualistic elements of The Wicker Man, Revolver delves deeply into the inner battle between the false self and the truth.
9. The Holy Mountain (1973)
Alejandro Jodorowsky’s surreal masterpiece is a visual and philosophical odyssey that tackles ego death, spiritual transcendence, and the dissolution of identity in the face of cosmic truth. The film follows a Christ-like figure and a group of wealthy individuals who seek enlightenment by climbing a sacred mountain, guided by a mysterious alchemist. Along the way, each character confronts their illusions, attachments, and the constructs that define their egos. With its rich symbolism, ritualistic sequences, and critique of societal norms, The Holy Mountain echoes The Wicker Man's core ideas.
10. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Stanley Kubrick’s visionary sci-fi opus examines humanity’s evolution and the transformation of consciousness. The film’s famous "Star Gate" sequence is a literal ego death, as Dave Bowman transcends human limitations and merges with something far greater. The monoliths, with their cryptic influence on human progress, function as ritualistic markers of nature’s (or the cosmos’s) inscrutable rhythms.
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