Review of The Town that Dreaded Sundown (2014) by Grant S — 03 Jun 2015

Had potential but ends up as your usual cheesy, predictable slasher-murder-drama.

The Town That Dreaded Sundown had some potential early on. By referring to an actual series of murders that occurred in the Texarkana, TX area in 1946 and an actual movie made in 1976 regarding these murders, you have the situation of an historic event within an actual movie within this movie. This made me think we were in for some sort of Christopher Nolan-like mind games.

Alas, no.

The historic event is just used to create a precedent and the 1976 movie hardly features beyond the opening scenes.

While there is some ongoing intrigue regarding who the murderer is, the movie hardly develops into a decent murder mystery. Pretty much ends up following the standard slasher-horror formula, with the conclusion being rather random, contrived and implausible.

Performances are of the usual so-so standard of horror movies. Worst of the lot is the one kid who mumbles his way through several scenes and heaps of dialogue.

Gary Cole is the only known name in the cast, and he's just there to give the movie credibility.