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In a charming town in the northern region, the accents suggest that the recently appointed vicar Rebecca Holland (played by Tuppence Middleton) believes she has successfully established a connection with the residents. However, the attendance at Sunday services is barely enough for a five-a-side game. Nonetheless, the locals appear amicable towards her and her husband Henry (portrayed by Matt Stokoe), and they have chosen to honor the family by selecting their daughter Grace, who is not yet a teenager, to be an angel with wheat sheaf wings for the upcoming harvest festival.
Unfortunately, it appears that Rebecca is unfamiliar with The Wicker Man as she would have comprehended the situation when Grace mysteriously vanishes. The following events closely mirror the 1973 folk horror classic by director Robin Hardy and screenwriter Anthony Shaffer, with some notable deviations in the final portion of the film. However, these twists are somewhat predictable, and overall, director William Brent Bell (known for the unimpressive Orphan prequel Orphan: First Kill) fails to build any real sense of suspense, despite the numerous human hair and twig poppets hanging from trees and eerie old ladies wandering the village and speaking of local demons. Rebecca is notably slow on the uptake, even when she encounters murals that visually explain the ancient customs of the area, resembling those in Midsommar.
However, the most commendable choice in the film is the casting of the talented Ralph Ineson as a enigmatic figure in the local community. His deep, commanding voice and rugged presence make him a captivating presence on both stage and screen. From his role in Robert Eggers’ The Witch to his portrayal of the mysterious supernatural character in The Green Knight, he is establishing himself as a staple in folk horror, much like how Barbara Steele was in 1960s Italian horror films like Castle of Blood and The She Beast. Personally, I am excited to see more of him in this genre.
Source: theguardian.com
