Lord Summerisle is the laird of the beautiful Scottish island of Summerisle. A policeman from mainland Scotland called Sgt Howie is brought to the island to investigate the disappearance of a young girl called Rowan. Howie is a very religious Christian and is appalled to find that the island's natives are all a bunch of practising Pagans. Confronting Lord Summerisle, he is told that Summerisle's grandfather brought new crops and strains to the island to help its beleaguered inhabitants and he used the 'old religion' to foment this. Lord Summerisle appears very avuncular but he has orchestrated Sgt Howie's investigation on the island for a very sinister purpose. Christopher Lee, a prolific horror movie star, has stated that Lord Summerisle is his favourite role that he has ever played. He is only on screen for a comparatively short amount of time, yet manages to lodge himself firmly in the viewers' minds, even more so than Edward Woodward's stunning turn as Sgt Howie. Lee is the very embodiment of gentlemanly charm towards Howie, but he is a dyed in the wool Pagan with murderous intent. Watching him lead the May Day parade, dancing with a silly wig on his head, he still manages to radiate the right amount of menace for the film.
My first film watched was Carrie aged 2 on my dad's knee. Educated at The University of St Andrews and Trinity College Dublin. Fan of Arthouse, Exploitation, Horror, Euro Trash, Giallo, New French Extremism. Weaned at the bosom of a Russ Meyer starlet. The bleaker, artier or sleazier the better!
