The Town That Dreaded Sundown
Directed by Charles B. Pierce
When two young lovers are tortured on a back country road in Texarkana, local police are baffled. Three weeks later, two more people are slain in a similar setting, and Deputy Norman Ramsey fears a pattern might be developing. Texas Ranger J.D. Morales is brought in to help. The two officers must find "the Phantom Killer" before he can kill again. Based on one of America's most baffling murder cases, this horrifying suspense thriller is a shocking experience you'll never forget.
When two young lovers are tortured on a back country road in Texarkana, local police are baffled. Three weeks later, two more people are slain in a similar setting, and Deputy Norman Ramsey fears a pattern might be developing.
Cast: Andrew Prine, Ben Johnson, Charles B. Pierce
Member Reviews
Enjoyable movie and Bud Davis is *fantastic* as the killer. Though I think they made some missteps, Davis' portrayal of the Phantom is worth watching at least once, and possibly more.
Proto slasher. Odd choice in music and comedic moments are a bit awkward. Still has a couple genuinely grim and tense parts.
This film is quite the mixed bag of content. One one hand this is a fine little gem of a proto slasher flick with a nice handful of gruesome and even scary moments. However, some of the jovial moments area bit out of place, and I'm pretty certain it wasn't "just the names" that were changed. The killer is genuinely terrifying and underrated, but his mystery is as annoying as it is alluring. It's by no means a bad film, but I think there's a reason Halloween and Texas Chainsaw Massacre are the go to 70s killer horrors.
Absolute classic! I remember watching this movie with my dad as a kid, I still love it to this day.
True classic horror. Paved the way for horror after this truly chilling movie. I live in Texarkana and my grandma used to tell me stories about this when I was little and it always felt like he was lurking or could come back at anytime.