MovieChat Forums > The Wicker Man (2006) Discussion > Question about the ending scene

Question about the ending scene

posted 12 years ago by azninvasion87
2 replies | jump to latest

Absurdity of the movie aside, a serious question:

Why did they break his legs and put the bee mask on him before hoisting him up into the wicker man? The other animals in the wicker man (I think I saw a goat?) were unharmed.

My first thought was the obvious - to prevent him from trying to climb out of the structure and escape. Putting him into shock via the bee stings seems to accomplish the same purpose. I don't remember any dialogue explaining it, but then again I was tuned out the entire time.

But was there another purpose? Were they deliberately being cruel to him by torturing him? Was it all part of the ritual? Was the director just trying to make it more gory?

Any explanations appreciated.

[–] scottieweiss 12 years ago

"Why did they break his legs and put the bee mask on him before hoisting him up into the wicker man?"

I think inducing his fainting with bee stings and then reviving him was part of a "dying and re-birthing" theme. That might have been what the director said in the commentary, but I can't remember. The leg breaking remains a mystery to me. As you may know, they edited out that whole sequence from the later edition.

[–] MrSambito 12 years ago

I always thought the leg-breaking was to ensure he couldn't run away (although once they overpowered him there's not much chance of that and even if he did, he can't really leave the island), which makes the point of the bee mask all the more confusing. It might have been some connection with the goddamn honey because, keep in mind, they think this is going to help next year's honey harvest.

In any case, I laughed.