THE TOWN THAT DREADED SUNDOWN (1976)

4 stars

88 Films. Blu Ray. Out now

In the same style as their previous THE LEGEND OF BOGGY CREEK (1972), Director Charles B. Pierce and scriptwriter Earl E. Smith explore a monster of a different kind in this proto-slasher, documentary style outing (part of 88 Films ongoing collection of that horror sub genre).

Based on, somewhat loosely I gather, a real life series of killings which became known as the Texarkana Moonlight Murders and which, slight spoiler, remain unsolved to this day.

Set in 1946 in a typical US small town, with high hopes for the future after the war… that is until Sunday March 3rd when a ‘reign of terror’ started. A young couple, Sammy and Linda Mae, are out on a date in a remote area in a car, when she hears something. A man in a white sack mask with eyeholes cut into it, brutally attacks, dragging Sammy from the car then targets her as well. She is discovered left on the side of the road. Luckily for them, they both survive… unlike the later victims.

Deputy Ramsay (Andrew Prine) is the local copper looking into the case – with next to nothing to go on apart from it being a masked man. It isn’t long before other folk are found dead. Fear sweeps the area. The sheriff has to call in help in the shape of the most famous ranger in the history of Texas (allegedly) – one Captain J D Morales (Ben Johnson). He takes charge to try and find this cold blooded killer.

Despite the low budget, this has good period detail, with the voiceover narration by Vern Stierman bringing an air of authenticity to proceedings. As you’d expect in these productions some of the acting is a bit hit and miss, however Johnson and Prine are both very good in their roles. The comedy relief with police officer ‘Spark Plug’ Benson, played by the director, feels a bit misplaced. In a meta moment at the end of the film the townsfolk are seen queuing up outside the cinema for the World Premiere of the film you have just watched!