Today is the one of the relatively rare summer holidays. Modern industrialized nations tend to take a more relaxed view toward summers without having to give out too many prescribed company holidays. This seems to follow on from school schedules because the kids are out in summer and adults need some flexibility when work demands collide with family needs. The internet has made work-life balance a little tricker to achieve since work is always just a click away. Some more generous employers gave yesterday as part of an extended four-day weekend, which is rejuvenating in a way that’s easily forgotten until you start to feel it. The sense of obligation takes a couple of days to wind down, and then on Monday you realize “I’ve still got another day off!” It’s a sublime feeling. Why not watch holiday horror on it?
The Wicker Man is a holiday horror movie. One of my arguments in the book is that holiday horror has to derive its energy from the holiday, and not just be set on it. For example, I Know What You Did Last Summer and Return of the Living Dead are both set on or near Independence Day but the movies don’t really draw their horror from the holiday itself. It falls into the same category. Frogs? Well, maybe. Perhaps holiday horror, it’s definitely in bad movie territory. A rich southern family is dominated by a Trump-like grandfather who controls the money and measures everyone by loyalty to him personally. On his birthday, the fourth of July, nature revolts and his adult children and grandchildren (apart from one granddaughter), are killed by animals in this eco-revenge groaner. But is it holiday horror?
One scene may suggest that perhaps it fits the category, but the real significance of that day is that grandpa won’t let it be celebrated any way other than by his prescribed plan. Even as the estate is overrun by frogs (mostly), snakes, lizards, alligators, tarantulas, and even some birds (thank you, Mr. Hitchcock), he insists that everyone do what they always do on the fourth of July/his birthday. The only scene that suggests holiday horror is where the eponymous frogs hop onto a cake decorated like an American flag. I normally like nature-revenge films, and this one starts out well but quickly goes downhill. The environmental message is there, but underplayed. There are some firecrackers and a number of dead rich folks, but otherwise the film seems to have no message at all. It’s a bad movie. Holiday horror? Not really. Something to watch for a day off work? Definitely.
