Review of The Town That Dreaded Sundown (1976) by Tim S — 18 Nov 2011

The Town That Dreaded Sundown is a semi-true life story about the Phantom Killer, whom went on a murder spree in the 1940's in Texarkana, Arkansas. I had been lead to believe that it was a really terrifying film, but sadly that's not the case at all.

I seriously don't get why this film has been heralded as a very frightening film. I wonder just how many people have actually seen it lately. Being that it's just now getting its first DVD and Blu-ray release, I really wonder how many people have actually seen it in the last twenty years or so.

It's so appallingly bad at times. Everything from the dialogue, story, tone, direction, you name it. It's just so horrifyingly dull. Coming from the director of The Legend of Boggy Creek, I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

I give it two stars mainly for the imagery of a hooded figure, which was later ripped off over and over again by other horror films, and the fact that Dawn Wells is a murder victim in it. The cinematography is alo pretty good most of the time.

Other than that, it's just very plain and unimaginative.