User reviews

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.

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!

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

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.

Two years before this film, the granddaddy of your typical slasher film, Black Christmas, was released. But it wasn't until Carpenter's "Halloween" that triggered the whole thing in the 1980's.

This film although not considered a slasher, does contain the elements of one. A masked murderer killing teens in sometimes bizarre ways, like attaching a knife to the end of a trombone and playing it while trying to stab somebody with it.

Based on real life events, the movie is set in 1946 in the city of Texarkana, Texas, and plays as a Docu-thriller the doings of "The Phantom Killer", a figure wearing a white mask over his head with holes cut out for his eyes(remind you of anyone?) who left the city of Texarkana in constant fear, or better yet, left the whole city dreading sundown.

The acting is pretty average, if not below average, sometime it may seem like Ben Johnson and Andrew Prine are carrying the burden of acting all by themselves.

The film does not feel like it's set in the 1940s, it seems like the director only decided to throw a couple of old Buicks here and there and call it 1946. Probably a budget thing.

It also unfortunately attempts at comedy in which it fails terribly.

These things however, do not interfere with the fun ride the film is.

Charles B. Pierce's "The Town that Dreaded Sundown", IS a classic and should be seen by everyone interested in the slasher genre.

7/10

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+

The film has a 50s detective story feel to it that compliments nicely along side interesting shot choice. However, the film's inconsistent tone was far too distracting. It was never funny when it tried nor was it frightening, it simply was. Not to mention most of the performances having the ceiling of adequate and a floor of downright embarrassing. On top, the choices in sound were distractingly stock. In all, an ok movie.

A strange film indeed. It seems to start off as a horror but then bizarre moments of (unfunny) slapstick or silly comedy are inserted here or there. It really messes with the tone in an offputting way. The whole thing is a mess.

I enjoyed the trombone part though I have to admit. Just plain weird.

There is a moment during the chase alongside the train where a cameraman is clearly visible for a few moments. I have to give a lower score for such shoddy filmmaking.

I have always maintained that things that could or have actually happened are far scarier (than say space aliens, the undead, Jason etc ). THE TOWN THAT DREADED SUNDOWN , therefore had a terrific basis for a movie. A series of murders, largely perpetrated on isolated couples on lovers lanes occurred in the town of Texarkana right after WWII. The killer was never caught. Great premise for a thriller ! Unfortunately, the budget, screenplay, and most of the acting is far from worthy. ANDREW PRINE, DAWN WELLS do fairly well with the little they have to work with. BEN JOHNSON, on the other hand, come off like he is royalty visiting The House of Commons. The whole production has the feel of one of the old IN SEARCH OF episodes with LEONARD NIMOY. Aside from the actors mentioned previously, the rest of the cast appears to have been locals with no acting ability, let alone projection.

The movie is scary at times, dull at others. Lackluster would be a good word to describe it. What could have been a very scary motion picture disappoints !

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.

Some people love this film, Some hate it.

I grew up in Texarkana, I was in the film as an extra in several scene. I dated one of the girls "killed" in the film and I was friends with the director, Charles B. Oierce.

It's not a bad film for what it is - a low budget drive-in film. There have been better and worse. Its enjoyable.

However, some people think it's the film depicts the Phantom Killings as they happened. It doesn't. The film takes a lot - and I mean a LOT - of liberties with the truth.

For the record, the Phantom Killer assaulted one couple and killed two other couples. The motive was robbery. He was caught - his name was Yuell Swinney - but there wasn't enough evidence to convict him of the murders. Much of what the police had came from Swinney's wife - she led them to items stolen in the robbery, was present at one set of killing - but she would not and could not be made to testify against her husband. They did convict him of car theft, his third felony, and he went away for life.

But one of his earlier convictions was overturned. He was released in the 1970s but was back in prison within a year. He died years later in Dallas, in a secure nursing home, suffering from dementia.

The last attack on a "farmer" and his wife - played by Dawn Wells - was not an actual Phantom incident. It was assumed to be at the time. But nothing fit the MO and the gun was different. Also, the "farmer" was a well-known local fence and bookmaker. It was most likely a local gangland killing - Texarkana had a lot of organized criminal activity back then.

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.

This movie claims to be based on actual events, and the reading I've done on the case seems to suggest that - except for the ending and some extraneous comedy material focusing around a bumbling, Barney Fife-like local cop (which seemed totally out of place) - it's relatively true to the events that actually occurred in Texarkana in the spring and summer of 1946.One night, a young couple is parked on "Lovers Lane" when they're suddenly attacked by a violent, masked man. Both survive the attack, but this is the beginning of a season of terror in Texarkana which eventually leaves five people dead and the murderer unidentified. All five murders (and the original two attacks) are portrayed (not graphically, but clearly) and the setting of a wooded, swampy area late at night makes this a truly frightening movie at times.

The movie is pushed along by the use of narration, which filled in some details. The characters (except for the comedy cop named Benson) came across as realistically portrayed, although their names were changed. Some of the more graphic details from the real cases (especially the parts dealing with sexual assault) were left out. The record would seem to suggest that "Morales" - the Texas Ranger assigned to head up the investigation and whose real name was Gonzaullas - was not as warmly received by the local officials as the movie depicts. The biggest alteration from the facts seems to be the ending of the movie. Here, police find and chase a masked suspect into the swamp but never catch him, and the movie speculates that he may have died in the swamp. In truth, there was an arrest made in the case, but there was never a conviction, although many people believe that the man arrested was in truth the killer.

Overall, this is a decent movie - better than I was anticipating to be honest. It would seem to have had some impact on the "Friday the 13th" series - the mask the killer wore being very similar to the mask that villain Jason Voorhees wears in the first installment of that series. The performances here are pretty good, although the cast isn't exceptionally well known - the most familiar name and face is probably that of Dawn Wells (who played Mary Anne on "Gilligan's Island.") Apparently this isn't an easy movie to find - but it's worth taking advantage of the opportunity to see it if it should pop up somewhere.

A town on the border of Texas and Arkansas is terrorized by a vicious masked killer following WWII. A movie based on a true case in the town of Texarkana.

I had high hopes for this movie, having seen another Charles B. Pierce film, The Legend of Boggy Creek and having enjoyed that one. I was very disappointed. The acting was uninspired, the story did not draw me in, and felt no attachment to any of the characters.

I really wanted to like this movie. I did. I have a thing for horror movies from the time period of the 40s through the early 80s, and one about a very obscure serial killer (I had never heard of this still unsolved case until I watched the movie, which in turn caused me to google the real case).

Anyways, I just found it very boring. The actors were uninspired, and oh my god I've never heard more annoying screaming in any horror movie I've ever watched ever.

I ended up leaving it on as background noise while I did something else.

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 .

It's 1946 Texarkana, Arkansas. Someone in a hood is attacking the locals. Everyone is scared. Captain J.D. Morales (Ben Johnson) leads the investigation. Imagine 'The Texas Chain Saw Massacre' without the intensity, or the horror shocks. The hood could have been this movie's Leatherface. The production is not that much better. The energy isn't the same. The filming style almost feels like a movie coming from the 50's crossed with some gruesome 70's horror. The attempt at comedy seems out of place. The cross dressing cops could be interesting color but it's trying too hard to be funny. The bumbling deputy is too silly. The music cues are pretty bad. That's not to say that non of this work. The trombone bit is weird as hell and works as horror camp. It has moments like that which makes this a potential cult classic. The movie needs to stop the slow-motion action, the weak comedy, and get a better ending. It has some value as camp, a little bit of horror worth, but mostly struggles as a B-movie.

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 ****

An unknown, hooded killer terrorises the people of Texarcana, Arkansas. Despite people's extra vigilance, and the presence of extra authorities, the killer mercilessly takes victim after victim.

Quite an impressive movie, it's very much a video nasty with some very grizzly and harrowing scenes, based on real life killings it still hits hard. I'm always interested about slashers from the 70's (that's exactly what it is,) where they are in relation to the big two, namely Halloween and Black Christmas, so it actually comes in between the two, coming after Black Christmas, but before Halloween, and I wonder if that accounts for its relative lack of notoriety.

The attack scenes are genuinely unsettling, and the vision of that hooded killer is very disturbing, this is one film that doesn't hold back.

All that said, e have the goofy music, which would have been better suited to Herbie goes bananas, it is so out of place, as are the several humorous scenes, they really clash with the main story and vibe of the film, Spark Plug could well have been written for a different film and been good, but in a slasher, it's like having Bambi in Dracula.

The acting is good overall, some performances are stronger than others, however there is no denying the quality of Ben Johnson, he's excellent in it.

The later remake from 2014 is worth seeing, it perhaps focuses more on the horror element, but it is worth a look.

A chilling story, 7/10.

This movie was incredibly bad. It was literally an insufferably amateurish attempt at lurid, psycho-sexploitation cinema. For 1976, it was so anachronistic that it had the feel of a 50s B-movie. It featured Ben Johnson in a wooden role and the character of a local bumbling deputy, who was supposed to be comic relief, but his buffoonery was inserted so awkwardly that it simply added more pitiful misery to the town's overall effort. A truly horrible film...yet somehow, like a train wreck, I couldn't seem to stop watching as I prepared for the next ridiculous encounter with an inept, helpless screaming prom queen. Afterthought: where were all the guns? Texarkana...and no one had a gun until 4/5ths of the film was done?