I've seen this one, and I remembered everything about it except the ending, which I guess I blocked out for obvious reasons. I love that you compare the set-up to The Wicker Man. This sort of story really does work better without such a cuddly ending.

The comparison hit me early in this viewing and I couldn't shake it, which made the ending even more of a damp rag than I had remembered. I'm not saying that I wish the same incendiary finish on Sam Donovan, but it's so close to a workable little movie and then twenty tons of tinsel flatten everyone! Blacking it out was only self-protective.

This made me laugh!

Thank you!