Product Details

• Actors: Ben Johnson, Andrew Prine, Dawn Wells, Jimmy Clem, Jim Citty
• Directors: Charles B. Pierce
• Writers: Earl E. Smith
• Producers: Charles B. Pierce, Samuel Z. Arkoff, Thomas W. Moore
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Good Times Video
• VHS Release Date: May 15, 2001
• Run Time: 86 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (54 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6303917461
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #109,306 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Movie based on a true story of murder and mystery in Texarkana.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Must-See for True Crime Fans, January 28, 2000

By 

Thomas Baio (Bronx, New York City.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Town That Dreaded Sundown [VHS] (VHS Tape)

The Town That Dreaded Sundown is an effective little thriller worth seeking out and viewing more than once. It is the true story of a hooded killer who went on a rampage in Texarkana, Arkansas just after World War II. If you are a history or true crime fan, you will appreciate the narrarative style of telling this story. For example, the film goes into detail on how life was in Arkansas before, during and after the murders and important dates of the case are displayed to the viewer throughout the film. The movie itself gives alot more than it was given budget-wise to make. The attack scenes and the final confrontation between the protagonists and the villain, are tense and effective without the use of bloody make-up FX. Fans of horror films relating to true crime who have already seen all the movies about Charles Manson,Ed Geine, Burke and Hare, etc. will also want to consider viewing this film. The writer (Earl E. Wynn) and director (Charles B. Pierce) colaborated on other films based on true cases entitled The Evictors and The Legend of Boggy Creek; two films that come highly recommended as well. Happy Hunting!

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Unsolved Mystery, November 26, 2002

By 

"mykarenina" (St. Louis, MO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Town That Dreaded Sundown [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I am a true fan of horror movies. I love the "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" series. I am a fan of "Halloween." Every Friday the 13th I rent every "Friday the 13th" movie and stay up all night watching them...always with the lights out. Despite my wide-ranging horror film experience, I can honestly say that "The Town That Dreaded Sundown" scared me more than any other film to date.

Shot in 1976, this film presents the true story of a Texarkana, Arkansas crime spree in 1946. World War II had ended bringing the military boys back home and Texarkana was enjoying peace and prosperity. From the murky depths of night, a killer mysteriously emerged to taunt and terrorize the inhabitants of the quiet town. Young couples were attacked in their cars on lovers lane in intervals of 21 days...and even a famous Texas Ranger couldn't solve the case.

The story is presented in documentary style, with a narrator weaving direction through the onslaught of terror. There is no shock value to this movie. It is presented with raw facts and the chilling realization that this crime could happen anywhere at any time. The Phantom Killer of Texarkana, always wearing a hood to cover his face, left a crude and bloody path of destruction in his wake and throughout this film you can feel the terror gripping the tiny town. This movie is a necessary selection for anyone who loves sitting in the dark and being scintillatingly terrified or for anyone who simply enjoys a true unsolved mystery.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Chilling, December 17, 2003

By 

D. Ullery "D. S. Ullery" (Lake Worth, Florida United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Town That Dreaded Sundown [VHS] (VHS Tape)

First an explanation: This movie loses one star for the lame attempts at humor inserted by director Charles B.Pierce, who should have known better. Beyond that criticism, though, this semi-documentary about a rash of brutal murders that held the small town of Texarkana , Arkansas in an icy grip of fear way back in 1946 is a top-notch suspense thriller. The killer is depicted as being as capable of "mad -dog" brutality as he was in reality ( the scene with the trombone will haunt you for days), and the low budget actually accentuates the grim circumstances unfolding in this movie. This film is very, very scary. It has also received recognition as being one of the more accurate depictions of a true life crime case that has ever hit the screen. If you like to be scared, then pop this one into the vcr, turn off the lights and get ready to have your nerves assaulted. Charles B.Pierce demonstrated with this feature that he knows how to play an audience. It's a shame he hasn't done anything even remotely noteworthy since. Ah, well. If this were his only film as a director, he could still beam with pride.