The Town That Dreaded Sundown (1976)

A Texas Ranger hunts for a hooded serial killer terrorizing the residents of a small town, set in 1946 Texas. Loosely based on a true story.

Director:

Charles B. Pierce

Writer:

Earl E. Smith

Stars:

Ben Johnson, Andrew Prine, Dawn Wells

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ben Johnson	...	Captain J.D. Morales
Andrew Prine	...	Deputy Norman Ramsey
Dawn Wells	...	Helen Reed
Jimmy Clem	...	Sgt. Mal Griffin
Jim Citty	...	Police Chief R.J. Sullivan
Charles B. Pierce	...	Patrolman A.C. Benson
Robert Aquino	...	Sheriff Otis Barker
Cindy Butler	...	Peggy Loomis
Christine Ellsworth	...	Linda Mae Jenkins
Earl E. Smith	...	Dr. Kress (as Earl E. Smith)
Steve Lyons	...	Roy Allen
Joe Catalanotto	...	Eddie LeDoux (as Joe Catalanatto)
Roy Lee Brown	...	Rainbow Johnson
Mike Hackworth	...	Sammy Fuller
Misty West	...	Emma Lou Cook

Storyline

Set in the late 40's the residents of Texarkana, Texas are left terrorized by a mysterious hooded killer who is stalking victims during the evening and leaving the local police at a loss.

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Plot Keywords:

cult film | shot in the head | lovers lane | masked killer | based on true story | 

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Taglines:

In 1946 this man killed five people... Today he still lurks the streets of Texarkana, Ark.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 December 1976 (USA)

Also Known As:

Pânico ao Anoitecer

Filming Locations:

Texarkana, Texas, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

American International Pictures (AIP), Charles B. Pierce Film Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Some of the swamp scenes at the end of the film are actually recycled footage from The Legend of Boggy Creek (1972), Charles B. Pierce first feature film.

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Goofs

On several occasions, the killer is shown using a revolver with a silencer attached. Standard revolvers cannot be silenced. However, gas sealed revolvers can indeed be silenced.

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Quotes

Narrator: Texarkana looked normal during the daylight hours. But everyone dreaded sundown...

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Connections

Referenced in 42nd Street Forever, Volume 2: The Deuce (2006)

User Reviews

He still lurks the streets of Texarkana, Arkansas.

Another chilling docu-thriller from director Charles B. Pierce (who made The Ledgend of Boggy Creek in 1972), this film being his best!

It's 1946, in the small town of Texarkana, Texas-Arkansas a hooded murderer is terrorizing the community and making the local law enforcement desperate.

Based upon the real events that surrounded one of America's most baffling serial killers, this solidly made film is a compelling and generally under exposed fore-runner of the slasher genre. Director Pierce gives this film a nicely authentic feel of the era as well as a great atmosphere of dread. The movies strongest scenes are the re-enactments of the murders, which are effectively heart-pounding! Among the memorable moments is a creepy 'murder-by-trombone' and an intense stalking sequence with a bloodied Dawn Wells. Along with these thrilling bits comes some mild comic relief with the local police that thankfully don't hamper the proceedings. The moody music score is also a good touch.

The cast does well, veteran actor Ben Johnson is good as a criminal specialist, as is Andrew Prine as a local deputy. Director Pierce himself appears as a bumbling police officer.

An entertaining thriller from its shocking opening to its haunting conclusion, The Town That Dreaded Sundown is a B movie winner.

*** 1/2 out of ****