Review of The Town That Dreaded Sundown (1976) by Mike P — 15 May 2009
Oddity based on the true crime spree known as the Texarkana Moonlight Murders from the mid 40's. Directed with a psudo-documentary feel, Charles B. Pierce also directed The Legend Of Boggy Creek that also had the semi-documentary feel. The Town That Dreaded Sundown is entertaining in the low budget drive-in sense. The acting is at times laughable..even the great Ben Johnson has it rough in that dept. But Pierces eye for authenticity is amazing. Everything you see feels like its from the time the film takes place, 1946. And his use of having the real townfolk as extras adds to the semi-documentary feel.
The film really works best whenever the Phantom Killer is present. He has a whole Zodiac thing going on for him with his white hood and his victims being couples. These scenes are pretty intence and well done. Lots of scary imagry. And it gets pretty brutal.
. The Town That Dreaed Sundown is pretty hard to find these days, but if you ever stumble upon it and you have the taste for drive-in trash then check this one out.
This review of The Town That Dreaded Sundown (1976) was written by Mike P on 15 May 2009.
The Town That Dreaded Sundown has generally received mixed reviews.
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