UFO's, the "real" witch and others

So I didn't hate this movie as much as it appears everyone else did and I'd like to discuss a few things.
1) To me it seems obvious that the long limbed thing is supposed to be the witch. Lane even sets it up when they are in the forest saying that you can't look at her and live which is almost exactly what happens at the end. I have not listened to the commentary yet (but intend to) but have been told that the filmmakers are denying that this is the witch (with speculation that this denial is relative to the failure of the movie). I truly hope that's not the case but it would definitely appear that could be the case. In my opinion if you are making movies in this day and age you have won the lottery and should treat it and the fans better than to throw a tantrum over not having a hit. But again I have not heard the commentary so will reserve judgement on that.
2) It seems clear to me that the filmmakers were trying to introduce the notion of UFOs into the mythology, or at least throw it out there that as a dark horse theory. I mean pretty much every convention of UFO lore is present in the film. A) The notion that people are abducted (they absolutely beleaguer the fact that no bodies were found. That comes up in several parts in the film. B) The long limbed thing in the woods. Clearly it looks like the traditional "grey" alien. So are they trying to say that the witch is an alien? C) The lights. I mean come on....that part may as well be the little boy scene in "Close Encounters" and there are multiple big machine sounds throughout the film. Plus the guys says "what the f was that? As if it was something completely unexpected. D) The lighting hitting the trees. Again this comes up several times in the film....and from where? I could be wrong but I don't remember anything about this being in the original. E) The drone. What crashes it? Does it hit something? A UFO?
3) What's the deal with the thing in the girl's foot? They go back to this several times. It is set up with the old story of the child being pulled down (and again never heard from again) and then Lane and his girlfriend act like they know something, and Lane even acts like he's stalling before going into the water. Clearly there is some connection with the wood and sticks as every time it hurts her you can hear a stick breaking sound. Are the stick figures disappeared kids or what?
4) The time slips. I actually kind of get these in that they would explain a lot from the first movie and actually add to the mythology. I get that if you were the witch you could keep the people you are chasing where you wanted them but why does Lane seem to be in some sort of other timeline? Is he really in league with her (as he jokes at one point) or some sort of Rustin Parr reincarnation (he references him the whole time)?