The Town That Dreaded Sundown Collection

Ben Johnson

Andrew Prine

Dawn Wells

Jimmy Clem

Jim Citty

Charles B. Pierce

Robert Aquino

Cindy Butler

Christine Ellsworth

Earl E. Smith

Steve Lyons

Joe Catalanotto

Roy Lee Brown

Mike Hackworth

Misty West

Rick Hildreth

Jason Darnell

Bud Davis

Vern Stierman

Mike Downs

James Duff McAdams

Dennis Lehane

Barbara Pryor

Karen Jones

Bonnie Langriff

Chris Ellsworth

Denise Broulette

Michael Sherfey

Dick Damon

Fred Payne

Ginger Tanton

Lynn Andres

John Stroud Jr.

Betty Moortgat

Dimitry Gortinsky

Dan Finnity

Steve Shearsby

Fred Judkins

Phil Haberman

Andrew Herbert

Richard Portman

Jaime Mendoza-Nava

James W. Roberson

Tom Boutross

Thomas W. Moore

Samuel Z. Arkoff

Grant Sinclair

Myrl Teeter

Cheri Minns

Bob Gates

Libby Smith

Horror

Mystery

Thriller

Crime

The Town That Dreaded Sundown

American International Pictures

Charles B. Pierce Film Productions

United States of America

_**A killer is on the loose in Texarkana in 1946**_

The Texarkana Moonlight Murders and the ensuing investigation that took place from late February to early May, 1946, are chronicled with the names changed and details altered for dramatic purposes. Ben Johnson plays a renowned Texas Ranger on the case and Andrew Prine a formidable deputy sheriff. Dawn Wells shows up in the last act.

“The Town that Dreaded Sundown” (1976) is a crime docudrama that could be designated as an early slasher even though it’s based on a true story. The sack the killer wears on his head was the inspiration for the mask Jason dons in “Friday 13th: Part 2” (1981). 

Along with “The Legend of Boggy Creek” (1972) and “Grayeagle” (1977), this was one of B-film director Charles B. Pierce’s more notable flicks and he appears in the movie as bumbling Patrolman Benson.

Speaking of which, there some curious attempts at comedy that are incongruous with the grave proceedings, which is reminiscent of the incompatible blundering cops in the original “The Last House on the Left” (1972).

I liked the 1946 setting with the old cars plus the fact that this basically happened in real life and inspires you to research the true story, just don’t expect anything close to the greatness of “Bonnie and Clyde” (1967). Have mercy, the budget was $400,000. 

The film runs 1 hour, 30 minutes, and was shot in Texarkana on the Texas/Arkansas border, plus The Jack Williams Ranch in Garland City, Arkansas, with the train sequence done in Scott, Arkansas. 

GRADE: B-/C+

English

THE TOWN THAT DREADED SUNDOWN (The 1976 Original Cult Classic) Trailer