“This is really removing Lucifer’s trousers!”

128. Ritual – David Pinner

I finally got my hands on a copy of Ritual, which was the catalyst for The Wicker Man becoming a film. It is not The Wicker Man, in fact, it’s way more wordy and confusing than The Wicker Man, but there are many aspects which are clearly the basis for at least one sexy lady character and her major beating the wall scene and the general vibe of occult investigation making policeman angry and punchy, which even occurs in the Nicolas Cage Wicker Man. Also, no matter what, these children are both creepy and annoying and I do wish they would have stuck to “gang” when referring to them because it was more accurate on several levels.

Ritual is from 1967, so it comes with lots of things that would not be said or nicknamed today in polite company. It also definitely comes with some actions that would get policemen fired right away, not so fired that they are burned in a giant wicker structure, but very, very unemployed and arrested. That is not how you question children, even if they are really offensive.

Inspector Hanlin really wasn’t ethical at all and I hardly think his methods would hold up in a court even though he shouted into the phone for a Forensic. He still kept putting evidence in his pockets and being a jackass. And why didn’t he have backup sunglasses if the sun hurt his mauve eyes so much? Non-prescription sunglasses have always been easier to get than prescription eyeglasses, so, no excuse in my opinion. He was a man of many rude and jarring contradictions and did not inspire sympathy, in fact, no one in this story did. Maybe Gilly, but she’s it.

 

Mortemer thinks Hanlin’s methods are not going to bring back your bees or your apples or hold up in court. At all.