The Town That Dreaded Sundown (1976) User Reviews

A Film That Set Up Horror And Crime For Decades

[gavin6942 · 7/10 · 15 December 2007]

Based on a true story, the phantom killer stalks Texarkana and kills couples who hang out at lovers lanes. Armed with some nasty weapons and a pillow case for a mask, he terrorizes this town to the point of near shutdown, causing police forces from all over the state to intervene. Who can stop his rampage?

I've never seen a film quite like this before. I've seen plenty of based-on-real-killer films (most of which are nothing like the original murders), and the recent David Fincher film "Zodiac" follows very much in the vein of this movie (and Zodiac has some similarities to the Phantom). And this film is a definite inspiration for "Friday the 13th" with the pillow case mask. So, in at least one way, this film really kicked off a trend of stalking psychos. And while the first real serial killer film may have been "Black Christmas", this film isn't one to ignore: there's a really good scene of a woman being chased through the woods that is not unlike what we'd see a hundred times in the next thirty years.

The film also offers two dichotomies I'll address briefly: crime versus horror, and comedy versus drama. Much of this comes across as a crime film, because we are following the police on their manhunt and get to know some of the officers personally and they are clearly the protagonists. We want them to win. But this film has a horror element that cannot be ignored -- we don't just see the aftermath of a killing. The director took great delight in showing the chase, the torture and the deaths of the women. A straight crime tale wouldn't do this. But a horror film would, because many horror films have us egging on the killer even when we know he or she is evil. This film offers both sides.

The serious and comedy balance is also striking. We have a documentary-style voice telling us the updates and we are offered dates of the killings and for the most part this story remains rather serious and we can sympathize with the town. But then, we also have some cheesy music (not quite "Yakety Sax" but the same idea) and a character who threatens old women, cross-dresses and drives a cop car (poorly) as if he was an officer in "Dukes of Hazzard". Horror films generally have a comic relief -- a dark one -- but this really pushes the silly factor.

All the acting is great, the plot is simple but effective (a police manhunt). The video quality isn't perfect (this film really deserves a remastering and a re-appraisal, as horror historians will have to recognize the importance of this single film). But you will like it, I can pretty much guarantee that. I was sucked in almost immediately and lost valuable sleep time, but don't regret a moment of it.

In the Solid B-Movie Tradition

[dougdoepke · 14 June 2012]

The movie reminds me of one of those ace 1940's chillers, like Follow Me Quietly (1949). Based on fact, Sundown is about a phantom killer who stalks lover's lanes in Texarkana, and police efforts to catch him. Of course, without the heavy hand of a '40's Production Code, Sundown is much more graphic than anything from that earlier decade.

Importantly, however, this is not a slasher movie. There is some blood and violence, but the chief effect comes from the larger than usual sound department. The screams from victims are both unrelenting and unnerving. The girls really do sound terrified. Then there's the heavy breathing from the hooded killer, which are the only sounds he makes and about as chilling as the screams.

Credit producer-director Pierce with making shrewd use of a small budget. The Arkansas locations add both color and authenticity, along with the unforced drawls of southern born leads Johnson and Prine. The movie also does a good job of recreating a '40's milieu, even down to the girls' bobby-sox that brings back fond memories. My only gripe is with Pierce— he should stick to producing-directing because his turn as the inept patrolman Benson is too out of sync and silly for the movie as a whole.

Judging from some Google searches, it looks like the screenplay sticks pretty close to the general facts of a case that also appears to have entered the realm of regional folklore. Given the spookiness, I can see why. Anyway, the overall result is a nail-biter in the outstanding tradition of B-movie chillers, with a rather surprising outcome.

Memorable killer who does not speak ....................

[merklekranz · 6/10 · 15 September 2011]

Ben Johnson leads a Texarkana manhunt for a hooded serial killer. Aproximately every three weeks in 1946, random killings occurred, mostly in lovers lanes. The film has excellent post WW2 atmosphere, and is only weakened by voice overs, and some"Barney Fife" type humor that fails completely. The attacks are sometimes depicted rather darkly, but the hooded killer who does not speak, is memorable. One does sense a feeling of dread among the townsfolk throughout, and the police frustration is also well documented. Sometimes less is best, as is the case with "The Town That Dreaded Sundown". With no idea of who the masked menace is, his motivation, or as the open ended conclusion speculates, is he still out there, ones imagination is left to wonder. - MERK

He still lurks the streets of Texarkana, Arkansas.

[Nightman85 · 9/10 · 29 January 2006]

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 ****

Women were Crying & Screaming in the Theater!

[legwarmers1980 · 10/10 · 31 July 2005]

I saw this movie when it first came out in Miami, Florida. When the 6feet 8inch. psycho killer wearing a potato-sack as a mask with the eyes cut-out, appears, and butchers the lover-lane couple, with his heavy breathing and the potato sack mask going in and out, a young woman in her 20s ran out of the theater hysterical, and a few other women were screaming! Made a few years before the slasher films of the 1980s, this film was way before its time. The killer was brutal, sadistic, and very realistic. The murders were done in a very realistic manner, and with a cast of almost complete unknowns, it had a documentary feeling to it. Veteran character actor Ben Johnson was excellent as usual, and a nervous looking Andrew Perine did a creditable job, but it was the killer who stole the show. Excellent movie, tame by today's standards, but a horror classic never-the-less.

Unique, Original, Creepy: a forgotten classic.

[nfaust1 · 18 May 2004]

THE TOWN THE DREADED SUNDOWN is one of the most original horror films of the 70's. And that's saying a lot. It starts off as a square-footed documentary with voice over and all the rest. But in the midst of this rather sweet evocation of Texarkana, Arkansas, a hooded madman runs rampant, sadistically killing and killing and killing. The violence, though not particularly graphic, is disturbing because of the way Pierce places it within his documentary structure. The movie's goal, I think, is to show the unspeakable chaos that lies just beneath the facade of America's post war prosperity. How secure is the picket fence world when a hooded maniac may be lurking in the shadows? The mystery is never solved; we don't find out who the killer is, nor is there a climactic moment where all the action peaks. The killings just stop and the dread never really ends, it just recedes back into the city's shadows. What makes this movie so compelling is the straight forward and uncluttered way Pierce lays out his facts. He will dramatize certain situations, but not in the conventional way, not with a continuous rising and falling melodramatic plot. Pierce's approach circumvents the usual horror movie gestures to zero in on what is, in this case, a purely mythic concern: evil in our midst. The killer, not shown to be a "character" in the traditional sense, is a burlap hood with eyes looking through eye holes and black work boot. The killer's visual presence and violent actions are given no motive, no personality beyond the moments of mayhem we see and the destruction we hear discussed. This killer is merely a faceless force, a depiction of nameless chaos, and, because he exists in this removed state the viewer is instinctually compelled to make sense of his actions. Pierce takes the trappings of exploitation and weaves a creepy and, for me, unforgettable midwestern epic.

Charles B. Pierce, an independent producer- director, was the Otto Preminger of the drive-in market. Like Preminger, he was rarely taken seriously as an artist. One reason could be that his film subjects jump all over the place, from horror to Native American stories, to a movie about Vikings staring Cornel Wilde! He thought big and was not afraid to put his name above the title. Even in the post BONNIE AND CLYDE era, the idea that a regional film maker could both embrace and bypass the Hollywood system to actually get films like these made and shown must have seemed strange to most of the status quo.

The one that put him on the drive-in map, THE LEGEND OF BOOGY CREEK combines what appears to be genuine documentary footage with horror movie antics. At first, you think it's a joke, but as it goes on, a strange kind of unvarnished beauty emerges. I wouldn't say the movie's entirely successful (TOWN plays with the same concept and is more assured and less loopy), but it's bold and original and it reportedly made a lot of money. I've seen most of Pierce's movies, not all of which work as well as TOWN, but all of them exhibit a splendid sense of place and style. The late 40's vibe in TOWN hits the mark, and on shoestring budget, I'm sure. Charles B. Pierce was a true film maker, and I'll bet there's a lot to be learned by studying his work and the way he put together his productions. Where is he now, and what's he doing?

The one that got away.

[Zeegrade · 8/10 · 24 September 2009]

Proving that it's the totality of a person's work that should rightfully categorize whether someone has a talent for directing, The Town That Dreaded Sundown proves that there is more to Charles B. Pierce than his more well known albatross Beast of Boggy Creek II and to a lesser extent The Norseman. Centered in Texarkana, Texas in 1946 a series of assaults and murders by a man wearing a sack over his face turns the friendly town into a community that quickly becomes scared of it's own shadow. Ben Johnson as Captain J.D. Morales is called in to assist Texarkana Deputy Norman Ramsey in one of Andrew Prine's finest performances ever. Charles B. Pierce supplies the movie's comic relief as lead-footed hothead A.C. "Sparkplug" Benson that provides genuine bright spots in an otherwise dark movie. What makes this such an interesting story is that the case remains unsolved to this day as apposed to all the connect the dots maniacal killer movies that flood the market. There is no happy ending and sometimes the bad guy does win, just like in real life. A very underrated movie that isn't too long and yet pulls you as the storyline progresses. How many films do you know that have an attempted murder of Mary Ann from Gilligan's Island fame? Just one my man, just one. Well done Charles, I knew you had it inya!

Well made, sometimes effective horror film that is based on a true story.

[hu675 · 8/10 · 25 April 2010]

Set in the late 1940's Texarkana, Arkanasas. The residents of a small peaceful town are terrorized by a mysterious hooded killer. Who's been stalking and killing random victims during the night. When the police from the town are hopeless and confused by the terror. A professional detective from Texas, Captain J.D. Morales (Oscar-Winner:Ben Johnson) arrives in Texarkana to help the police office. Who is also charged in the case is Deputy Norman Ramsey (Andrew Prine). Although these vicious, then unusual crimes stopped as quickly as they begin. Morales and Ramsey are running out of time.

Directed by the late Charles B. Pierce (Bootleggers, The Evictors, The Legend of Boggy Creek) made an well made horror film that is occasionally scary and suspenseful. This sometimes, unusual movie is also narrated by the late Vern Stierman. Which is surprisingly effective, when it is used. Pierce himself appears in a supporting role as Patrolman A.C. Benson. Who is the comic relief of the movie but that's the only complain of the movie. Sometimes, i felt the film's sense of humour sometimes hurts the effectiveness.

Since the movie is only available in a bootleg release. You can find this movie in Full Screen or Widescreen. You are better off finding this in Widescreen. Since it is extremely well shot by James W. Roberson in Panavision. The movie is also gimmicky at times, especially during the conclusion. Since this picture has become an Cult Classic over the years. Now...There's an remake in the works and it might be shot in 3-D! If you haven't seen this, this is worth seeing. The look of the hooded killer is giving homage later in "Friday the 13th Part 2". The killer in this movie, who is truly scary is played by stuntman Bud Davis as the Phantom Killer. (****/*****).

A killer is on the loose in Texarkana in 1946

[Wuchakk · 6/10 · 18 March 2021]

The Texarkana Moonlight Murders and the ensuing investigation that took place from late February to early May, 1946, are chronicled with the names changed and details altered for dramatic purposes. Ben Johnson plays a renowned Texas Ranger on the case and Andrew Prine a formidable deputy sheriff. Dawn Wells shows up in the last act.

"The Town that Dreaded Sundown" (1976) is a crime docudrama that could be designated as an early slasher even though it's based on a true story. The sack the killer wears on his head was the inspiration for the mask Jason dons in "Friday 13th: Part 2" (1981).

Along with "The Legend of Boggy Creek" (1972) and "Grayeagle" (1977), this was one of B-film director Charles B. Pierce's more notable flicks and he appears in the movie as bumbling Patrolman Benson.

Speaking of which, there some curious attempts at comedy that are incongruous with the grave proceedings, which is reminiscent of the incompatible blundering cops in the original "The Last House on the Left" (1972).

I liked the 1946 setting with the old cars plus the fact that this basically happened in real life and inspires you to research the true story, just don't expect anything close to the greatness of "Bonnie and Clyde" (1967). Have mercy, the budget was $400,000.

The film runs 1 hour, 30 minutes, and was shot in Texarkana on the Texas/Arkansas border, plus The Jack Williams Ranch in Garland City, Arkansas, with the train sequence done in Scott, Arkansas.

GRADE: B-/C+

Terrific film shamefully ignored over the years!

[Coventry · 9/10 · 17 December 2004]

"The town…" is an early triumph in the serial-killer section of the horror genre, handling about a small American town terrorized by a masked murderer shortly after the end of World War II. Actually based on true events, the maniac picks out his victims on Lovers Lanes and shoots them without mercy. This important low-budget production, from the hands of the legendary producer Samuel Z. Arkoff, completely depends on unsettling atmosphere and the icky sound editing. The isolated location of a town of the edge of Texas and Arkansas has something raw, primitive and terrifying. This aspect is stressed extra by the grim voice-over that repeatedly informs us about the facts. Although you never get to know much about the killer's identity or personality, it's one of the most fascinating madmen in film history. His heavy breathing and primitive mask (similar to the one Jason Vorhees wore in F13 part 2) make him look truly chilling and mysterious. What's also great about this movie is that it features so many tricks and familiar sub-plots, only they were used here of the first time! Profiling of the killer, copycat behavior etc… All this makes "The Town that Dreaded Sundown" a vastly underrated and film and more horror fans should reckon its brilliance. Too bad it's so hard to obtain a decent copy of it. I spent years looking for this film before finally seeing it in poor picture quality. The only few flaws to detect is the lousy and typical redneck humor that director Charles B. Pierce inserts in order to lighten the demanding tone of the film. The same mistake also almost ruined Wes Craven's "Last House on the Left".

Flawed, but watchable

[Wizard-8 · 1 August 2016]

"The Town That Dreaded Sundown" has amassed a sizable cult over the years. To some degree, I can understand that; there is some genuine merit to be found in this low budget independently made movie. Despite those circumstances the film was made in, the movie generally looks very good, from the cinematography to the production values. The movie is also often directed in a very interesting quasi-documentary style, which gives the package some credibility. The best thing about the movie, however, are the scenes where the phantom killer strikes. These scenes are surprisingly creepy even by today's horror standards.

But as I hinted in my summary line, the movie is not perfect. There is some obvious padding throughout, though that may have been inevitable since the real life phantom killer only attacked eight people. Also on occasion, the musical score is both strident and annoying. But the biggest problem in the movie is the comic relief. The comic relief is not only unfunny, but it's heavy-handed and embarrassing.

Despite flaws such as those I mentioned in the previous paragraph, I think the movie is worth a look. It's never boring, and it is an interesting precursor to what was to come just a few years later: The slasher genre. I know of at least one 1980s slasher movie that was heavily influenced by this movie. See if you can figure out which one that was.

Who was that masked man?

[udar55 · 8/10 · 25 October 2007]

Based on the true story of the Texarkana Moonlight Murders, this follows the case closely as a Sheriff's Deputy (Andrew Prine) and Texas Ranger (Ben Johnson) try to catch the killer dubbed The Phantom. The film does take a few liberties in order to be more cinematic (Prine narrowly missing the killer; the heroic duo confronting the killer on a railway line) but holds true to the fact that the killer was never caught. What really sets this apart is the amount of period detail that - coupled with the voice of a narrator - almost makes it seem like a documentary. The only down side is some forced comedy involving the bad driving habits of a Barny Fife-like deputy (oddly enough played by the film's director Charles B. Pierce). The film is begging for a widescreen release.

Very Creepy!! YAY!!! Very Silly!! BOO!!

[josephbrando · 6/10 · 24 May 2013]

Half of this film is done like a creepy documentary with a "serious guy voice over" and killing reenactments which are utterly brutal, nasty, misogynistic, and very very suspenseful. That half of the movie I would give ten stars. However the other half which follows a bunch of dumb cops with silly, out of place comedic shenanigans, complete with silly out of place comedic music to boot is an awful eye- and ear-sore! But, oh those killing scenes!!! You've got a guy who looks just like Jason from Friday the 13th Part 2 killing, biting, torturing couples but unlike F13 the the camera lingers on the attacks. He doesn't just pop out, stab someone and disappear, we get to see the whole nasty affair! Then its back to "Barney Fife" and the bumbling cops charade. Blechhh! Cool ominous ending though. Any horror movie fan should definitely check it out!

Creepy story takes place in the year 1946 in the small Texas, Arkansas , border town of Texarkana

[ma-cortes · 7/10 · 5 November 2021]

A suspenseful thriller with gory elements , grisly killings , twists and unsettling atmosphere shot in semi-documentary style , including a voice-in-off . B-entertainment with a fairly suspenseful and frightening story in which a disturbing serial murderer on the loose undertaking a criminal spree by means of slashing and other grisly executions . As a series of brutal slayings terrorized the small town of Texarkana, the "Moonlight Murders" . Captain J. D. Morales (Ben Johnson) and Deputy Norman Ramsey (Andrew Prine) become obsessed with finding the man referred to as ""The Phantom" . As the body count climbs and the carnage comes closer , Morales delves deeper into the mystery , following clues that point her toward the killer's true identity . The Town That Dreaded Sundown puts Texarkana back on the map for all the wrong reasons .cNot Everyone Who Comes to This Lover's Lane Has the Same Thing on Their Mind. A True Story .A True Tale of Texarkana Terror! .In 1946 this man killed five people... Today he still lurks the streets of Texarkana, Arkansas .

It starts in documentary style with a narrator describing the post-Second World War atmosphere , but soon gets to the horrible business of the Phantom , an ominous murderer who terrorizes the locals . This little film is set in the small town of Texarkana located on the state line of Arkansas in which the unfortunate citizens are soon drawn into a frightening horrible realm from brutally slain by a masked serial killer. Intrigue , tension , suspense appear threatening and lurking here and there . The fact that ¨The Town That Dreaded Sundown¨ is based on actual events makes this thrilling and effective movie all the more chilling . It packs inexplicable disturbing occurrences , shocks, thrills , suspense , chills , hair-rising events and surprising final . A sinister and unsettling flick that goes on growing more and more and developing step by step until the eerie ending . Followed by a late sequel 2014 , set sixty-five years after in which the notorious series killer suddenly begin again : starring Anthony Anderson, Gary Cole, Edward Herrmann, Joshua Leonard , Denis O'Hare, Travis Tope and Veronica Cartwright,

This medium budget was professionally written/directed by Charles B Pierce. This artisan directed all kinds of genres and made his own independent films, as Pierce was the star, writer, director and co-producer of ¨The Barbaric Beast of Boggy Creek, Part II¨, (1985), a sequel to "Boggy Creek" that was eventually re-titled ¨Boggy Creek II: And the Legend Continues¨ (1985) . And directing westerns in similar style , usually dealing with Indian issues , Terror movies and even a Viking movie , as he directed the following films : "Hawken's Breed" , "Grayeagle" , " Winterhawk" , "Sacred Ground" , "Town that dreaded Sundown", "The Evictors" , "Legend of Bobby Creek" , "Bobby Creek II" , "Norseman" , among others . The flick will appeal to terror fans .

True store.....I have family connection to this unsolved case.

[vjbyale · 2 December 2007]

The story is true. I was younger of course the first time I saw the movie but I have heard the story all of my life. I have family members that were killed by this person and they are depicted in the move. My grandmother went to her grave swearing she new who this person was and that a bounty/warning had been put out on him. She lived in the Atlanta/Bloomberg area, near Texarkana, during this time period. Her husband, my grandfather was working in the oil field and with law enforcement during this time and said he knew exactly who it was and if he ever found him no one else would. I'm sure there are still some older members of the community that know more than they tell as well. Somethings just go to the grave. I would like to purchase a copy of this movie to have and show friends when the conversation allows.

Fear Factor

[DakotaPimpin99 · 10/10 · 16 August 2001]

Well I have to say that this movie is excellent. I was lucky to have my father be in this movie. I grew up in Atlanta,TX and moved from there in 1995. If you ever see the heavy set taxi driver, thats him, the officer at the police station dressed as a woman with the cigar, that was also him. My father did stunt driving and rebuilt the autos in the movie. You will be suprised what I can tell you that went on behind the scenes of the movie. Like when they tied Dawn Wells to the tree, well she was screaming not because of the phantom, but a snake that was on the ground in front of her. The snake came up during the shoot and they didn't tell Dawn about it, she just seen it. That is why her screams are realistic. One scene with the rain, look closey at the windshield wipers, if you notice its fast one minute, then slow, only because the motor went out and my father was on top of the car moving it by hand. Did you also know that most people that played in the movie did not know how to even drive or crank the vehicles? Back then there was push button starts, they kept breaking keys off in the ignition trying to crank it that way, but all the ignition does is unlock the collum. Needless to say they went trough alot of ignition switches. Boy what all I can say and not enough room to do it. I highy recommend this movie to anyone.

Started it ALL 4me!

[EmmeCHammer · 10/10 · 5 May 2021]

I was 7yrs old, being "baby sat" by my older cheerleader sister and her friends which wasn't bad, but hated all their boyfriends. My parents were out so we went to the drive-thru picture show in town I was told to lay down in the back seat to get in. They pulled up to the speakers, got me popcorn and coke and they went off into the slew of cars to do what Teenagers do and left me to become the #1 fan of slasher movies, I thought this was awesome, have watched every one every since. Years and years later found this jewel on VHS and bought it on the spot. It's cheesy, badly acted, and directed but is one of my all time favorites for its memories and an innocent time in my life that started it all for my love of the Cinema. Never will forget it!

Not a slasher

[kosmasp · 6/10 · 30 June 2016]

This came out 2 years before the Grandfather of slasher movies (Halloween). Although some may claim there were at least one other slasher movie before the one John Carpenter did, Halloween put the slasher movie on the map. So what is this? And does it even qualify as slasher movie? Because the Killer that this is based on apparently did not kill that many people to begin with.

The story takes other liberties too and some things may qualify for the slasher genre (mask, some of the killings, the way the Killer "hunts" his victims, inventive killings, although the one with the trumpet I don't quite get), but overall it has so many other tones in it, it's tough to make a case of Carpenter having stolen a blueprint here. There are moment were this slides into slapstick too (car going too fast scene). That doesn't change the fact though that this is still a drama, dresses as pseudo documentary, with voice over and all, to make it more legit.

Good try overall, but maybe a bit too slow for audiences now (and who knows, maybe even future audiences in general). That's something you have to make your mind up yourself.

Such an amazing film

[BandSAboutMovies · 10/10 · 2 January 2019]

Charles B. Pierce - the creator of the opus that's about to unspool - grew up in Hampton, Arkansas, afraid of the stories of the Phantom Killer who attacked eight people within ten weeks. Five of those victims were killed between February 22, 1946 and May 3, 1946. And the killer was never caught. The filmmaker was looking to follow up The Legend of Boggy Creek while avoiding a sequel. He wanted to stay within his lane - creating inexpensive films set in and targeting the small rural towns of the Southeastern United States. And then he remembered those harrowing tales from his childhood.

What emerged was a film unafraid to go all the way. Just look at the lurid ad campaign, which stated that "in 1946 this man killed five people...today he still lurks the streets of Texarkana, Ark." This tagline enraged town officials so much that they threatened to sue Pierce, as the wounds of the Phantom Killer's psychological assault were still fresh thirty years after the actual murders. But this is a film that presents plenty of strange juxtapositions. As upset as the town officials got, the film has closed the Texarkana's Spring Lake Park Movies in the Park Series every year since 2003.

That sense of duality hit me when I was in your shoes, watching this for the first time, at a drive-in similar to the one you find yourself in. I was confounded by the abrupt shifts in tone that this movie contains. Much like Boggy Creek, it's constructed as if it were a documentary about the events, but then it quickly shifts in tone to pure horror. And then it makes a complete turn into goofball comedy, often at the expense of the idiotic patrolman A.C. "Spark Plug" Benson (yep, also Charles B. Pierce, as this is an auteur project if you've ever seen one).

At first, I hated these scenes of comic relief. But over multiple (and I do mean multiple) rewatches of the film, I've come to appreciate them and wonder if Pierce knew that they'd lull the viewer into forgetting that they are watching a film willing to give into its most base notions. Pierce stated that he made this film so violent because the real story wasn't something he wanted to people to glaze over and forget. Sometimes, there are subtle moments, such as when the camera stays on the Phantom's face for a full ten seconds as he breathes in and out, staring directly at the viewer. But there are also moments of absolute mania and menace here. The film goes off the rails into unhinged slasher territory years before anyone would codify horror cinema with that subgenre.

After tonight, you may never look at a trombone the same way again (it's also worth mentioning that in the film's most gruesome kill, Pierce used his real life girlfriend as the victim). And while so many movies of this era promise a big name cameo in the hopes of gaining an audience, often that big name would step in and out of a scene. Here, Dawn Wells shows up and the squeaky clean Mary Ann from TV's Gilligan's Island is treated with anything but kid gloves - more like contempt as she gets brutalized in a scene that had me retroactively concerned for her safety. And in the very next scene, after enduring so much onscreen pain, there's another screwball comedy scene! It makes you wonder if Pierce was either a genius adept at putting you through a psychological wringer or the most inept pacer ever. Maybe he was both!

This is a movie with no easy answers - just like real life. There were Phantom suspects, but no one was ever caught. And at the end, even when the narrator claims that "Texarkana hasn't changed much," the idea that the Phantom is still out there lingers. The presence of the faceless killer lurks in every frame, as cuts to shoes or people listening from the shadows happen frequently. There is no reveal, no solution, no wrap-up. Even at the end, when the crowd gathers to watch The Town That Dreaded Sundown at a Texarkana movie theater - yes, meta was around in 1976, they're queuing up for the same film you just watched - the Phantom could be anyone in that line. Heck, he could be here right now, at the Mahoning Drive-In, enjoying the fact that his legend simply won't fade away.

When you get home tonight - successfully evading the Phantom, one hopes - I also recommend the 2014 quasi-sequel to this film, one that examines the very same contradictions - like how can a town that hates this legend still celebrate this film - that I've noted before. It doesn't have any moments where cops crossdress for a silly laugh. But it's filled with honest dread and is one of the few reimaginings that adds to the richness of the film that inspired it.

"If we catch him, it's gonna be a miracle".

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 9 October 2016]

I couldn't help feeling while watching this picture that it was an early forerunner of the slasher films that would soon make their presence felt with titles like "Halloween" and "Friday the Thirteenth". But this was a true story, which intensifies the horror element when you realize it could happen anywhere if some insane person with a sadistic imagination decides to run amok. It's an unusual picture, because even while it's nominally a crime story with horror elements, some comedic aspects are offered up as well, primarily in the person of Sparkplug Benson (Charles B. Pierce), a sheriff's deputy who has all the poise and self confidence of Mayberry's Barney Fife.

The setting of the story is Texarkana, Texas straddling the Texas-Arkansas border. The area came to a virtual standstill during the summer of 1946 when a series of night time attacks and murders occurred, defying attempts by authorities to solve the crimes. Even an intense manhunt under the supervision of Texas Ranger J.D. Morales (Ben Johnson) failed to identify and capture the 'Phantom Killer' as he became known, a case that remains unsolved to this day.

Despite it's unsatisfying conclusion, the picture never fails to hold one's attention, as the actions of the killer reaches strange and unusual proportions. The trombone stabbing of one of the female victims is particularly noteworthy of a sick and dangerous criminal, one who's not content with mere murder on his mind. Adding to the rural feel of the story's location are the mostly unknown members of the cast, led by the authoritative Ben Johnson in the principal role. TV fans of an earlier decade will certainly recognize 'Gilligan Island's' Dawn Wells as one of the Phantom Killer victims, though she was one of the fortunate few who survived her ordeal.

Sturdy regional horror item

[Woodyanders · 8/10 · 14 November 2013]

1946. No-nonsense Texas Ranger J.D. Morales (a fine and dignified portrayal by Ben Johnson) and earnest Deputy Norman Ramsey (an excellent and engaging performance by Andrew Prine) join forces to apprehend a vicious mysterious hooded psycho (played with creepy heavy-breathing intensity by Bud Davis) who's terrorizing the small rustic community of Texarkana, Arkansas. Director Charles B. Pierce, working from a solid script by Earl E. Smith (who also pops up in a small part as helpful shrink Dr. Kress), relates the absorbing story at a steady pace, offers a flavorsome evocation of the 40's period setting, ably crafts and sustains a strong atmosphere of dread, and hints at some pretty dark and depraved stuff throughout. The startling moments of savage violence pack a ferocious kick, with the infamous trombone murder rating as a definite memorably sick highlight. The use of both rural backwoods locations and locals in small roles gives this picture a sure feeling of authenticity. Dawn Wells makes a bravura appearance in one of the film's single most harrowing set pieces as near victim Helen Reed. Both Jaime Mendoza-Nava's haunting score and James W. Roberson's crisp widescreen cinematography are up to par. Vern Stierman's somber narration further enhances the overall gloomy and unsettling mood. However, the annoying comic relief deputy character played by Pierce seems painfully out of place. That criticism aside, this movie certainly deserves its cult status as a proto-slasher trailblazer.

Very spooky based-on-fact thriller.

[Hey_Sweden · 8/10 · 2 June 2013]

Done partly in a documentary style, with a narrator (Vern Stierman) on hand to explain characters and events to us, "The Town That Dreaded Sundown" is the memorable telling of a real life murder spree that occurred in the Texas / Arkansas border town Texarkana in the post-WWII mid-1940s. The hooded killer (played here for maximum creepiness by stuntman Bud Davis) claimed a handful of victims and in fact was never caught, much less identified. That lends a certain lasting impact to this film.

Directed by Charles B. Pierce ("The Legend of Boggy Creek"), "The Town That Dreaded Sundown" gets off to an appropriately scary start as our killer wastes little time getting down to business. His scenes are as good as those in any horror film, especially one truly bizarre scene where he uses a trombone to kill a girl. He doesn't use the same killing method every time, displaying a definite twisted imagination. His heavy breathing is truly unnerving.

Things alternate between the killers' actions and the intense manhunt that the local law enforcement puts into effect. The cops, hard pressed to discover clues or any useful information, call in a bigshot Texas Ranger named J.D. Morales (Ben Johnson). Morales most frequently is partnered with hard working deputy Norman Ramsey (Andrew Prine). An element of comedy is introduced into some scenes, especially in those involving the bumbling deputy "Sparkplug" Benson, played by director Pierce; at one point, several cops dress in drag and play the female half of various "couples" intended to serve as bait for the killer. These scenes do stick out a lot but thankfully never go on too long.

Johnsons' calm, authoritative presence is a big asset to this film, as is the solid performance by the under-rated Prine and the flavour supplied by the supporting cast. Jaime Mendoza- Navas' music score is excellent, as is the cinematography by James W. Roberson. The violent bits pack an effective punch and the resolution is nothing short of chilling; updates on the characters are given before the end credits start rolling.

Screenwriter Earl E. Smith appears on screen as Dr. Kress.

Highly recommended to any film lover fascinated with true crime stories.

Eight out of 10.

A pretty good independent production about a real case

[AlsExGal · 7/10 · 9 October 2016]

I'd never even heard of this case until seeing this film, and from viewing the Wikipedia article they pretty much got the facts straight, down to the name of the legendary Texas Ranger who came in to head the investigation after the local Texarkana police realized they had a serial killer with no motive on their hands.

I like how the film in the beginning takes the time to set up the atmosphere in Texarkana - heck, all across America - immediately postwar. There were plenty of jobs, people were optimistic, there was great growth in the need for houses and a marriage boom following the men coming back from overseas, yet Texarkana retained its small town charm.

The killer escalates in violence and bravado with each attack until he is almost caught, and then disappears as suddenly as he appeared. When the killer is attacking, you just see a homemade mask made from a sack over his head, and he never speaks, but his heavy breathing is scarier than anything he could say. When the film is insinuating that the killer is around town, hiding in plain sight, just a pair of shoes are shown. He carried a blunt instrument because he seemed to enjoy the act of bludgeoning and causing pain, but he also carried a gun in case he had to kill quickly.

Ben Johnson does a great job of portraying legendary Texas Ranger J.D. Morales, but I imagine law enforcement even in a big city would be hard pressed to solve what at that time was such an uncommon crime - a man who killed complete strangers just for the joy of inflicting pain. There were no FBI profilers, no DNA, criminal forensics was in its infancy. Thus nobody knows if the killer died, went to prison, or just "stopped".

The one thing I DID notice - and that is completely forgivable given the film's B pedigree - is that the women's hairstyles were often very 70s for this to be 1946. Part documentary, part suspense film, I'd recommend this one.

A rather good and creepy slasher from the 1970's.

[Aaron1375 · 7/10 · 7 July 2009]

This movie was made in the 70's and is based off events of a 1940's night in a small town. This town was the location of a small, but I am sure no less scary murder spree. Five victims killed, others injured, and the only thing known about the killer to this day is that he wore a hood. Makes sense this occurred in the 40's as I can see someone doing this and virtually disappearing and getting away with something like that back then, especially in a small town. The murders are not very graphic or anything, but it still works quite well, in fact better than most slashers of the 1980's which is usually considered the decade of the slasher movie. The story is interesting and the fact that these crimes actually happened add to the eeriness of the film...that and the fact the guy never got caught. The movie is a bit limited thanks to the fact it is based off true events, but the filmmakers do a good job in presenting the story in a way that keeps you guessing and on the edge of your seat. Most of my complaints stem from the ending which can not be helped as you never see the killer...this complaint is only minor as the fact the killer is never revealed also adds to the creepiness to the film. It also makes one glad this event took place so long ago so the killer in all likelihood is dead now. I am sure this movie is probably rather hard to find now, if found though it makes a nice addition to a horror library. I only saw it once myself as a child and I still remember it rather vividly, one of those old mom and pop rental store gems you luckily stumble upon.

The Town That Dreaded Sundown

[Scarecrow-88 · 9/10 · 5 May 2012]

In Texarkana, circa 1946, a hooded psychopath selectively victimized and killed couples primarily in isolated, rural Lover's Lane spots, using a lead pipe to bludgeon, as well as, a gun, with a silencer, to commit cold-blooded, execution style murders, done with a sense of menace you can feel underneath his mask, his heavy breathing and mad eyes considerably conveying the sadistic intent for those he targets. I have seen my share of brutal slashers, but The Town That Dreaded Sundown, not overtly gory, depends on the presence of the killer on screen, the terror of those he pursues, and the style for which he murders them for the effect. Sure a director like Rob Zombie can make a film where a killer stabs someone 40 times, but there is just something more potent and unsettling when you see the hooded menace of this film, strapping a knife to a trombone, the idea just coming to him out of the blue, shortly after tying up the band playing female victim to a tree, and blowing into the mouthpiece as the blade hits the mark, not explicitly displaying the actual violence, just the reaction of the assault on the face as each strike penetrates flesh. This is one of the strongest scenes in the film because the couple who is killed almost drive away from the secluded, remote spot, an area that had been patrolled, with the young man driving the vehicle jerked from the car, pummeled by the killer, hit across the head, subdued but trying to get to his feet while the teenage girl is tied to the tree, shot multiple times while attempting to gather his bearings. The girl watches as the killer quietly pulls the pistol, aiming cautiously so he can hit the target, and pumping several bullets into the poor victim. This scene to me, while not explicitly gory, gets the job done just as well as the psychopath in Fulci's New York Ripper, taking a razor down a female victim. It is always about the execution (to pardon a pun) of the scene that I think gets across the point and director Pierce, I believe, excels at depicting just how dangerous the hooded killer is. The first murder is handled a bit differently, more subtly, but preparing us for what is to come. A couple are mercilessly attacked, the male pulled out of the windshield, with the killer entering the car to finish off the girl. The female survivor is found crawling helplessly on the side of a highway, and the film tells us that carnage awaits future locals who have the misfortune of living in Texarkana. Using a narrative to explain the era and certain details of the time period, Pierce adopts an approach similar to The Legend of Boggy Creek, successfully evocating 1946 Texarkana splendidly. He incorporates moments of humor into the film so it won't be a total drag, and has some great actors to communicate to us the frustration and intensity of searching for a killer, crime scenes yielding no evidence, only minuscule assistance from eye witness accounts that give little to go on. Reliable screen veteran Ben Johnson is celebrated Texas Ranger hired to lead the investigation with the great B-movie actor Andrew Prine (who has the uncanny ability/knack to portray both heroes and villains) as Deputy Sheriff assigned to assist him in the manhunt. Several dead ends and false claims (by those saying they are the killer just for the spotlight) only further hinder and add difficulty to this investigation. The open ending is really an effective way to conclude the picture and the setting triggers the experience of Boggy Creek all over again, the Bigfoot replaced by a hooded psycho. Probably Charles B Pierce's best film, The Town That Dreaded Sundown does predate the slasher cycle of the 80s and very well could have been one of the inspirations for potato-sack killer Jason Voorhies in Friday the 13th Part II.

I think the best scene could be the killer, becoming even more daring, shooting a man laid back comfortably in his easy chair, in his living room, while the wife is in her bedroom getting ready. The woman, played by Dawn Wells (really good in this one protracted sequence which allows Pierce to wring as much suspense from the situation as possible, and doing so well, I thought...), is also shot in the face, flees her homes, through the woods, and into a nearby neighborhood, with the killer following closely behind. Finding a pick axe, the killer has grisly plans for her, but will Dawn be able to get help?