I can feel another semi-auto-biography coming on ;)
In "Hot Fuzz," the "Wicker Man" reference alludes to the classic horror film where a police officer investigates a missing child on a remote island inhabited by a pagan cult who ultimately sacrifice him in a giant wicker man ; essentially, it signifies a situation where a seemingly normal community hides a dark, sinister secret, often involving ritualistic practices, which the protagonist unwittingly stumbles upon, mirroring the plot of the original "Wicker Man" movie. Key points about the "Wicker Man" reference in "Hot Fuzz": The seemingly idyllic village: Like in "The Wicker Man," the town of Sandford in "Hot Fuzz" appears initially peaceful and welcoming, but beneath the surface, there are unsettling secrets and strange rituals happening. The outsider cop: Nicholas Angel, the protagonist, is an outsider police officer who arrives in Sandford, just as Sergeant Neil Howie in "The Wicker Man" arrives ...