A Wicker Man Sing-a-long

I’d heard of these kinds of events being hosted all over the country and had even read an article on the Guardian website about it; singing along to unnerving pagan soundtrack of Robin Hardy’s The Wicker Man didn’t exactly seem fun, but it did sound interesting, so I decided to go. Brought a friend too.

 The event was hosted by a couple of guys from Mayhem Horror in the cinebar of Nottingham’s Broadway cinema, so it was very informal; popcorn in bowls, songsheets were handed out, and being drunk was in no way frowned upon (it was actively encouraged). I had watched The Wicker Man a couple of times before, but until I looked at the songsheets I’d had no idea how many songs were actually in the film. There are a helluva lot, and most contain a lyric or two about lying with the landlord’s daughter in the cornfields.

 One of the opening scenes is a series of shots of Edward Woodward flying to Summerisle in his police plane to the sounds of the quietly sinister, and rather catchy, ‘Corn Rigs’. Singing started up a little tentatively at first, especially when we got to the line in the chorus, ‘I'll not forget that happy night among the rigs with Annie’, but soon, presumably due to the alcohol, we were singing away as if they were nursery rhymes at playgroup. 

 We all had a great time, especially with the naked dance scene (stop thinking what you’re thinking). There’s a window in the wall of the cinebar next to the screen where the audience can see anyone who walks past to go to the toilets and as Willow was singing her siren song on the breast-filled screen, a man appeared at the window and began to dance, taking his shirt off in the process, much to the amusement of everyone watching. 

 The film itself is completely brilliant, and is made even more so with the song lyrics in front of you. Not only do you realise what the songs are actually about (usually sex, yes), but you become part of the unsettling experience and the climax is rendered all the more shocking when you realise that you’re singing along with Christopher Lee to ‘Summer is A-Cumen’ while watching a man being burnt to death.

It’s good, clean, communal fun, so if you ever get the chance I strongly urge you to go to one of these screenings. If you don’t end up enjoying it, look on the bright side – it’s a conversation starter and you’d have a much better time than if you stayed at home warbling along to the Mamma Mia soundtrack or playing Singstar with the family (‘oh God, oh Jesus Christ’).