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The Town That Dreaded Sundown

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

1976-12-24 Horror 1hr 26m

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.

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Storyline

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.

  • Released
    1976-12-24
  • Revenue
    n/a
  • Budget
    $400,000
  • Runtime
    1hr 26m
  • Genre
    Horror, Mystery, Thriller, Crime
  • Status
    Released
  • Language
    English
  • imdb-logo
    6
  • Production
    American International Pictures, Charles B. Pierce Film Productions

Crew

Charles B. Pierce
Director
Earl E. Smith
Screenplay
Charles B. Pierce
Producer
Keywords:
based on true story stalking serial killer killer fake documentary proto-slasher

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Cast

Ben Johnson

Ben Johnson
Captain J.D. Morales
Andrew Prine

Andrew Prine
Deputy Norman Ramsey
Dawn Wells

Dawn Wells
Helen Reed
Jimmy Clem

Jimmy Clem
Sgt. Mal Griffin
Jim Citty

Jim Citty
Police Chief R.J. Sullivan
Charles B. Pierce

Charles B. Pierce
Patrolman A.C. Benson
Robert Aquino

Robert Aquino
Sheriff Otis Barker
Cindy Butler

Cindy Butler
Peggy Loomis
Christine Ellsworth

Christine Ellsworth
Linda Mae Jenkins
Earl E. Smith

Earl E. Smith
Dr. Kress
Steve Lyons

Steve Lyons
Roy Allen
Joe Catalanotto

Joe Catalanotto
Eddie LeDoux
Roy Lee Brown

Roy Lee Brown
Rainbow Johnson
Mike Hackworth

Mike Hackworth
Sammy Fuller
Misty West

Misty West
Emma Lou Cook
Rick Hildreth

Rick Hildreth
Buddy Turner
Jason Darnell

Jason Darnell
Capt. Gus Wells
Bud Davis

Bud Davis
The Phantom Killer
Vern Stierman

Vern Stierman
Narrator (voice)
Mike Downs

Mike Downs
James Duff McAdams

James Duff McAdams
Dennis Lehane

Dennis Lehane

Videos and Photos

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The Town That Dreaded Sundown
The Town That Dreaded Sundown
The Town That Dreaded Sundown
The Town That Dreaded Sundown
The Town That Dreaded Sundown
The Town That Dreaded Sundown
The Town That Dreaded Sundown

Movie Reviews

Reviews for The Town That Dreaded Sundown
reviewer avatar

A Review by Wuchak 6

Written by Wuchak on 2021-03-18

_**A killer is on the loose in Texarkana in 1946**_ The Texarkana Moonlight Murders and the ensuing investigation that took place from la... read more

_**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+

Read Full Review (The thoughts and opinions expressed here are solely those of the reviewer.)
A Review 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 dramat...

reviewer avatar

A Review by Wuchak 6

Written by Wuchak on 2021-03-18

_**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 name...

read more