Besides the catchy-creepy songs (I have a few on my iphone), the incomparibly hot Willow attempted seduction dance (a body double, what was R. Stewart worried about?), and the slow Hitchcockian plot unfold (wo overt s & v, so it builds & hits you slo-oww!), I agree w other commenter that it evokes that feeling of being the only one not in on the secret (scary in and of itself…like “The Lottery”). That E Woodward is sort of the butt of the islander's jokes is also unsettling, as he has all the markers of authority (cop, prominent in church, ie "normal").

Its also rather "historical" too, as you could imagine the clash of pagan cultures on the periphery of Christiandom (around 800 AD?) not wanting to lose their animist beliefs for fear of crop failure, or even "red state" hatred of gov authority. Even Puritans (it is said) "covered their bases" by belief in witchcraft alongside Christianity. Not sure if the matter-of-fact randiness of islanders was historical, but that also contrasts nicely w Woodward's righteousness? (watching as a student, I bore some guilt…we were church-raised, but college life a pagan ritual? Rooting against Woodward felt like hating on your parents?). One of my favorites of all time.