Review of The Town that Dreaded Sundown (2014) by Ennis Brokeback L — 26 Dec 2014

I was not familiar with the original Town That Dreaded Sundown, but I liked the approach of this remake. It exists in a world where the Charles B. Pierce film exists, and has become an annual tradition in Texarcana where the true story took place. So really it's a meta sequel about the continuing "true" story. Regardless of the identical title, "The Town That Dreaded Sundown" isn't some pointless Xerox copy of its '76 predecessor, but a dynamic, atmospherically shot thriller with a perceptive knack for time, place and methodically mounting unease. A strong slasher in its own right that can either be watched with the original thriller, or as a stand alone love letter. Director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon shoots The Town that Dreaded Sundown brilliantly, getting a lot of shots from within the environment so we feel like we're in there. The climactic confrontation between Jami and the enigmatic madman begins with a harrowing punch to the gut and a tension-filled chase down Main Street, but unfortunately devolves into one of those disappointing payoffs where the mystery psycho is unveiled and feels the need to explain his or her motives. The film is complimented by a fine cast including Anthony Anderson, Gary Cole, Veronica Cartwright, and Joshua Leonard, while Addison Timlin does a stellar job.

VERDICT: "In The Zone" - [Mixed Reaction] These kinds of movies are usually movies that had some good things, but some bad things kept it from being amazing. This rating says buy an ex-rental or a cheap price of the DVD to own. If you consider cinema, ask for people's opinion on the film. (Films that are rated 2.5 or 3 stars).