Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘The Town That Dreaded Sundown’ (1976)

Written by Scott Edwards

Living in a small town can definitely have its perks. You are able to find help whenever you ask for it, you know everybody by name and there is always a way to pay somebody back, even if you don’t have any money. It says a lot about small communities, but it also comes with its downside, as there is always a member of the town that nobody will ever listen to or help since they have been shunned by someone or everyone in town.

In the town of Texarkana, Arkansas, everything seems to be going according to plan. Everyone is able to go about their business without a care in the world, and even the kids are able to find quiet spots around town to get away from their parents without having a search party come out to find them. Nothing bad ever happens in the town, until one rainy night when a masked man decides to change all of the rules. Attacking a couple off of lovers lane, the masked man left two people to tell his story, but he is not through yet.

When is second couple is found shot to death in the woods off of a secluded road, the police have ramped up their efforts in finding the man and have decided to call in extra help. Being able to get one of the best man hunt officers in the business, the law enforcement of Texarkana is ready to find the masked man and put an end to his evil reign. With Captain J.D. Morales leading the hunt, everyone in town feels more secure and is almost willing to go back out as there has not been an attack in almost a month, but as the twenty first day comes about and another couple is found dead inside the city limits, fear takes over.

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​With the town on lockdown, there seems to be no way for the ‘Phantom’ to strike, but as a true killer does, he is able to find his next mark. With nobody safe in the city, it is up to the transplanted Captain and all of the officers around town to find this masked individual before he kills again. With only a window of time to look at and nothing else, the officers are faced with a task that could take them a lifetime to figure out.

The Town That Dreaded Sundown is a loosely based on a true story surrounding a serial killer called the Phantom that terrorized a small town on a specific night.  With his attacks coming every twenty-one days and only in secluded areas, the killer is very careful and leaves no clues at the crime scenes.  As the man hunt comes into full effect in Texarkana, an out of area officer comes in and tries to put everyone at ease but come to find out that he has no idea as to the person under the mask. As many nights pass and no suspects are ever brought into question, the town sits in fear of who the next target will be.

Although this is an older film, it still delivers the chilling message of not knowing what could really happen. As each couple decides to chance fate by going out after sunset, they all had a choice and did not believe that the threat was real. Watching how the police tried to take control of the situation was good, but them having to admit that they have no idea what is really going on makes you wonder how would we respond, if an event like this ever happened again. Stay Scared.

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