The Town that Dreaded Sundown

Overview

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A masked maniac terrorizes the same small community where a murderer known as the Phantom Killer struck decades earlier.

_**A copycat killer is on the loose in Texarkana**_ It has been 67 years since The Texarkana Moonlight Murders of 1946 and a new “phantom killer” surfaces with copycat attacks, usually occurring during “lovers’ lane” scenarios. “The Town that Dreaded Sundown” (2014) is not a remake of the 1976 B-flick, but rather a meta-sequel. It’s best to see the original first (if you’re not already acquainted with it) since there are so many references. This is a worthwhile companion-piece. To be expected, the filmmaking is all-around better, particularly the excellent color & cinematography, as well as the gore factor; unfortunately, the editing is sometimes too manic, like in the cornfield sequence. There’s also a bit too much sleaze for my taste, including perversion (which was at least amusing). This is basically an amalgam of the original movie with elements of “Freddy vs. Jason” (2003), the remake of “Friday the 13th” (2009) and “Scream” (1996), plus the raunchiness of “Psycho III” (1986). Addison Timlin is effective as the winsome protagonist, Jami. Meanwhile Morganna Bridgers is on hand as Kendra, a girl that’s enthusiastic about her man coming back from oversees, and Lanee Landry appears as Ardele. All three women are worthy one way or another. Veteran Veronica Cartwright even shows up. The film runs 1 hour, 26 minutes, and was shot in Texarkana on the Texas/Arkansas border, as well as Shreveport, Louisiana. GRADE: B-/C+