13 Scariest Movie Endings That Kept You Up All Night

Long before the words "Not the bees, not the bees!" became part of the bad movie lexicon, Robin Hardy's original 1973 British classic was justly held up by cult film aficionados as one of the greatest horror films ever made - not least for its jaw-dropper of a conclusion.

Edward Woodward stars as Howie, a Scottish city police officer summoned to the remote island of Summerisle to investigate reports of a missing girl. However, the locals prove less than helpful with his investigation, and their unorthodox pagan customs prove deeply shocking and offensive to the devoutly Christian copper.

However, it all builds up to one of the greatest climactic twists ever, as it comes to light that the girl's disappearance is a hoax which all the people of Summerisle are in on. The true purpose of it all was to ensnare Howie himself, as Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee) has deemed him the ideal candidate for a human sacrifice, in hopes that the gods of nature will save their harvest.

Howie's terror is palpable as he realises the inevitability of his fate, and the impossibility of escape, and the sequence is drawn out to nerve-shredding length as Howie is secured in the upper portion of the Wicker Man whilst the flames slowly rise to envelop him.

That final shot of the burning Wicker Man collapsing in on itself against a blood-red sun, whilst the islanders sing with joy and Howie screams in agony, is a haunting moment indeed.