Robin Hardy’s debut film didn’t have such a response when it was originally released in 1973, though, as it slipped into obscurity.
But over the years, the film’s subtle scares and memorably surprising conclusion have been more appreciated.
Proof that The Wicker Man has become a stalwart of British pop culture heritage came during the opening ceremony for the 2012 Summer Olympics, when Danny Boyle include the burning titular effigy.
Something that the diabolical 2006 remake only enhanced further.