The Town That Dreaded Sundown 2014

There are far too many times that the train is passing me by.

As many of you know I have been an avid defender of The Town that Dreaded Sundown and I have been hearing about this upcoming film for the past few years and last year it was finally Green-lit and I basically sat it out.

Now let’s face it I would not have worked on the film anyway so I am not going to be bitter about that fact and I have also been dealing with much in the past couple of years and…well I am not in the Union.

Some of the scenes were in fact filmed in Texarkana but most of the film was shot in Shreveport, LA where the film incentives are better and they will only hire local crew so that they can get the incentives and…well you have heard that rant from me before.

The truth is that here on the Video Creep is that even if I don’t work on a project that I want to work on and it is still a good project I will still give it a good review and that is what separates me from some of the other reviewers and Bloggers on the internet. 

As I stated I had been following the progress of this film and I have to admit that I am impressed.

Now when I first heard of the film I heard that it was a modern day remake and I had to say “Please, Don’t do that” and they Listened.

Now for those of you that are new here to The Video Creep have probably read my article on the Town that Dreaded Sundown 1976 Film.

Please Click Here for the Article

Now I could have attended the Premiere of the film at Fantastic Fest but again I am still recovering from the fire as well as bringing my production company back from the dead so I had to sit this one out.

I am fortunate that I was able to catch this flick and bring it to you here.

Now this is in fact an interesting direction for this flick similar to some flicks that I have seen the film takes a strange Found Footage esc direction where it does try to market itself as a real incident.

Now again the 1976 film is based on actual incidents that took place in 1946 that is best known as The Phantom Killer or the Moonlight Murders where a masked killer took the lives  5 people and injured 3 others  in Texarkana and despite being pursued by the Arkansas and Texas State police as well as the Texas Rangers was never apprehended and to this day’s identity remains unknown.

The 2014 documentary film Killer Legends also features this story and even a comparison to the film and the actual events while also pointing out its connection to the Hook-man Urban Legend.

Now American Horror Story’s Alfonso Gomez-Rejon has taken the reigns for a film of his own and he has done his research on the tale of the Phantom Killer. However like it’s 1976 Counterpart this film changes the name in the historical facts of the case. I’ll talk about this shortly but let us move on to the film.

Taking place 64 Years after the original Phantom’s reign of terror the town of Texarkana hosts screenings of the Town That Dreaded Sundown (Which Really Happens) and after Corey (Spencer Treat Clark) and Jami (Addison Timlin) choose to leave the screening and park at a lovers Lane where they are attacked by another masked assailant who kills Corey and leaves Jami for dead to tell all that the Phantom has returned.

Jami has her own tragic past with the death of her parents at a young age that is in fact loosely related to the legacy of the Phantom Killer is being sought out by both the town as well as stalked by the killer.

The Phantom Killer at first chooses his victims in similar fashion to the way that they are taken out in the film and the town both tries to cover up the murders while assuring that this is not a repeat of over half a century ago. Needless to say the town once again lives in fear of the masked villain while Jami and her new boyfriend researches not just the case but look to the original film to solve the mystery of not only the Phantom’s identity but why is he here now.

I should mention that unlike the original film in this flick The Phantom Speaks, and makes calls which definitely gives the film a Scream feel and Scream did reference the original film.

I really like the fact that this film takes place in a universe where the original film was in fact made but referenced and Charles B. Pierce’s son does have a character while he is played by an actor. The film is also edited into this film and inter-cut with the action to make the comparison.

Now there are some issues with the film.

When the murders start up again once again a Texas Ranger that is nicknamed “The Lone Wolf” arrives on the scene to find the killer as well as his assistant “Spark Plug”. Now this is where I have to ask the questions such as What are the chances of this happening. Not too good and they are trying to make good references to the original film while trying to establish this flick as a remake but the characters are in the film only briefly and as the authorities are shown to be only supporting characters as well as comic relief.

Now that is probably my only issue with the film despite the fact that it was primarily shot in Louisiana instead of Texas but if that is my only issue that has to be a good thing.

Visually the film was outstanding especially with the earlier mentioned use of the original film but also the use of locations in the town as well and the opening credits have to also be mentioned.

The Cast is also amazing with Veronica Cartwright as Jami's Grandmother, Gary Cole as one of the Sheriffs and Anthony Anderson joining the cast as Lome Wolf and Danielle Harris has a cameo role in the film as well. 

Sadly this is among the final films for two of it’s actors as Ed Lauter who played one of the Sheriffs in the film passed away in 2013 as well as Edward Herrmann who passed away on New Year’s Eve in 2014.

13 Dead Bodies

2 Breasts

2 Beasts

1 Compound Fracture

1 Bullet to the eye

3 Stabbings

The Trombone kill Remains

1 Human Scarecrow

Hands Roll

Heads Roll

3 ½ Stars

Check it out.

  

Retro Review: The Town that Dreaded Sundown

As I pointed out in my earlier post that there aren’t too many flicks that scare me.

I also spoke in my article when I reviewed the Beast of Boggy Creek I mentioned the Town That Dreaded Sundown.

I actually have referenced this flick quite a few times. I know that I mentioned it back in 2010 When Charles B. Pierce passed away.

The truth is that this flick scarred the hell out of me when I was young. I have noticed that I really am not afraid of some flicks. I love seeing monsters because I find them entertaining. Some movies I get scared because It can actually happen but when I was a child the scariest thing on Television was the Nightly News.

Therefore the movies that gave me fear was the movies that were based on a True Story.

Now I know that the first movie that comes to mind with that tagline is The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Which is one of my favorites but the real story that TCM is based on is far closer to the other flick it inspired Psycho.

However The Town that Dreaded Sundown is almost the exact story that inspired it and is more of a documentary film and the perfect companion film to The Legend of Boggy Creek.

The Town that Dreaded Sundown is based on what is known as The Moonlight Murders of Texarkana committed by a man known as the Phantom Killer. In which a masked man attacks young couples parking on Lover’s Lanes.

The Phantom’s first couple of victims survived their attacks, However He killed four others and also shot a man reading the newspaper and severely wounded his wife.

Legendary Texas Ranger Manuel T. Gonzaullas aka The Lone Wolf was sent to Texarkana to hunt down the killer but was unable to find him.

There is a small section of the Texas Ranger Museum dedicated to the cases that involved the Rangers worked including the case of the Phantom.

The case is intriguing because like Jack the Ripper the killer was never caught. However the Ripper has far more publicity.

Now The Town that Dreaded Sundown does take a few creative liberties. The first is like Dragnet despite the fact that the story is true; the names have been changed to protect the victims. Other names have been changes as well such as the character clearly based on “Lone Wolf” Gonzaullas is changed to Captain JD Morales; He does keep the “Lone Wolf” nickname.

This film is super creepy in particular in scenes where we see the killer on the streets. One scene in particular we see the police talk about the killer in a restaurant with a psychologist giving them a profile and then the camera tilts down to the floor and then moves across the floor showing the killer’s shoes revealing that the killer has been sitting next to them the whole time. All of this happens without revealing the killer’s identity.

As a matter of fact the killer’s identity is never revealed and the scenes where he is seen without the mask he is shown wearing the black shoes that he wore when he committed his crimes and they are accentuated by a music motif to further show that he is there. There is one other scene where his elbow is seen sitting in a car.

I want to talk about the killer’s outfit with the mask. First off someone from Friday the 13^th part 2 had seen this flick. That is because it is basically the same mask used in the flick. What I find the most interesting about the mask is the basicness of it. It isn’t a hockey mask or a repainted Captain Kirk mask it is just a white bag with holes cut into it, but it is still a super creepy mask and that combined with the dark cinematography, the music and the editing you have some scary scenes that will make you want to check the doors before you go to bed at night.

Ben Johnson plays the starring role Captan Morales with Dawn Wells as the much hyped role of one of the victims, and Andrew Prine as the role of Deputy Norman Ramsey. 

Director Charles B. Pierce plays a supporting role as Patrolman “Spark Plug” Benson.  Spark Plug provides some much needed comic relief in the film some would say that it hurts the flick and makes the cops look inept. However I feel that Pierce’s portrayal of Spark Plug grows on you after the first couple of scenes. Some of you may not agree with me but that is my opinion.

The Town that Dreaded Sundown has received much attention especially when it was mentioned in Scream in the scene where it the characters look at the town and Sidney says that this looks like the Town that Dreaded Sundown and Dewey replies that he saw that movie “It’s about a killer in Texas”.

Now I have some fun Trivia for all of you.

The film that the citizens of the town are seeing at the end of the film is The Town that Dreaded Sundown

Also in the big chase scene at the end of the film there is a cameraman sitting on the train filming the movie.

Finally in 2013 The Town that Dreaded Sundown has receved the Full DVD and Blu-Ray Treatment by my friend Michael Felcher and the good people over at Shout factory.

The DVD comes with a Double Feature of both The Town that Dreaded Sundown as well as Charles B. Pierce’s The Evictors and both the Blu-Ray and DVD contain a fascinating Audio Commentary with Historian Jim Presley speaking of the real crimes of the Phantom Killer and the events of the film that aren’t accurate.

There are also some exclusive interviews with both Andrew Prine and Dawn Wells speaking about their experiences on the film and an interesting Essay by writer Brian Albright about the history of the film.

5 Dead Bodies

0 Breasts

1 Beast

1 Car Chase with Crash but no burn

2 Smashed Cigars

Gratitus Stock Footage

Charles Pierce in Drag

Trombone Fu

Mary Ann Fu

Phantom Fu

4 Stars Check it Out

5 Dead Bodies

0 Breasts

1 Beast

1 Car Chase with Crash but no burn

Gratitus Stock Footage

Death by Trombone

Stabbings

Shootings