The Town That Dreaded Sundown 1976
6 / 10
The Town That Dreaded Sundown
When two young lovers are savagely beaten and tortured on a back country road in Texarkana, local police are baffled and must find "the Phantom Killer" before he can kill again.
When two young lovers are savagely beaten and tortured on a back country road in Texarkana, local police are baffled and must find "the Phantom Killer" before he can kill again.
Videos & Photos
All 1 Videos & 28 Photos
cast
Full Cast & Crew
... Captain J.D. Morales
... Deputy Norman Ramsey
... Helen Reed
... Sgt. Mal Griffin
JC
Jim Citty... Police Chief R.J. Sullivan
... Patrolman A.C. Benson
User reviews
See All 1 Reviews23 Jun 2021 by Wuchak
_**A killer is on the loose in Texarkana in 1946**_ 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+
Release Date:
Dec 24, 1976 (United States)
Run Time:
1hr 26`
MMPA Rating:
R
Original Language:
English
Production Countries:
United States
Status:
Released
Plot Keywords:
Related Movies To
The Town That Dreaded Sundown
_**A killer is on the loose in Texarkana in 1946**_ 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+
Cast & Crew of
The Town That Dreaded Sundown
Directors & Credit Writers
... Director
... Script Supervisor
Cast
... Captain J.D. Morales
... Deputy Norman Ramsey
... Helen Reed
... Sgt. Mal Griffin
JC
Jim Citty... Police Chief R.J. Sullivan
... Patrolman A.C. Benson
... Sheriff Otis Barker
CB
Cindy Butler... Peggy Loomis
... Linda Mae Jenkins
EES
Earl E. Smith... Dr. Kress
SL
Steve Lyons... Roy Allen
... Eddie LeDoux
RLB
Roy Lee Brown... Rainbow Johnson
... Sammy Fuller
MW
Misty West... Emma Lou Cook
... Buddy Turner
... Capt. Gus Wells
BD
Bud Davis... The Phantom Killer
... Narrator (voice)
MD
Mike Downs...
Produced By
TWM
Thomas W. Moore... Associate Producer
... Executive Producer
LA
Lynn Andres... Production Assistant
Videos & Photos of
The Town That Dreaded Sundown
Videos ( 1)
Photos ( 28 )
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