10 Best Horror Movies That Aren't Supernatural
8. The Wicker Man (1973)
Not to be confused with the brilliantly bad remake starring Nicholas Cage, Robin Hardy’s original 1973 version of The Wicker Man has remained a chilling cult classic and folk horror masterpiece all these years later.
In case you’re unfamiliar with the premise, the plot follows devoutly religious police sergeant Neil Howie (Edward Woodward) travel to the remote Scottish island community of Summerisle to investigate the disappearance of a young girl. It doesn’t take long after arrival for the sergeant to realise that there’s something not quite right about the island’s inhabitants. Not only do they worship a benevolent pagan god, they also have a strange habit for bursting into songs about sex.
Of course, the most peculiar part of the investigation is that there was no missing girl after all; nor was there any murder coverup as the officer suspected. The entire investigation was a hoax designed to lure Howie to the island to use him as a human sacrifice after their crops failed. All of which results in the harrowing finale where the villagers (led by Christopher Lee) rejoice in song as Howie burns alive.
The Wicker Man remains a landmark in horror, and all without any ghosts (or bees) in sight.