Louisiana-based filmmaker Charles B. (The Legend of Boggy Creek) Pierce's The Town That Dreaded Sundown (1976) is an effective thriller that exceeds the bonds of its budget thanks to brisk pacing and some alarming murder sequences. Based on the real-life "Phantom Killer," a hooded assailant whose five murders in the Texarkana region in 1946 are still unsolved, Pierce's film divides its running time between re-creations of the attacks and their paralyzing effect on the community and an investigation led by Texas Ranger Ben Johnson (playing a fictionalized version of legendary Ranger Captain Manuel "Lone Wolf" Gonzaullas) and deputy Andrew Prine. The five murders unfold in particularly unsettling fashion, especially the assault on housewife Dawn Wells (of Gilligan's Island fame) and her subsequent frenzied flight from the killer, and find a satisfying balance between suspense and bloodshed. These moments, along with the film's Texarkana locations, some solid action set pieces (in particular, the pursuit of the killer that closes the picture), and the presence of Johnson and Prine, do much to smooth over some tonal awkwardness, most notably Pierce's turn as a hapless deputy whose comic interludes stop the picture cold, and the infamous "trombone" murder (perpetrated upon Pierce's then-wife, Cindy Butler), which flirts with the boundaries of bad taste. Though by no means a classic title, The Town That Dreaded Sundown delivers the grisly goods with energy and rough style, which has preserved its appeal among '70s-era horror devotees. Shout Factory's Blu-ray/DVD presentation offers a surprising wealth of extras on both the film's production and the crime spree that inspired it. In tried-and-true drive-in fashion, the DVD pairs Town with Pierce's The Evictors (1979), a modest period thriller that benefits from its cast of cult favorites, including Michael Parks (Django Unchained), Jessica Harper (Suspiria), and Vic Morrow (Combat!), and impressive photography. Extras on both the Blu-ray and DVD are led by interviews with Prine and Wells, with Prine coming off best by virtue of his rakish recollections. Director of photography James Roberson also provides some insight into his experience on the picture as a twentysomething relative novice, while author Justin Beahm (Halloween: The Complete Authorized History) leads an informative commentary track with historian Jim Presley, who provides expert details on the Phantom Killer case. Genre writer Brian Albright (Regional Horror Films, 1958-1990) contributes an interesting essay on the film and its key players, as well as its impact on Texarkana (whose town fathers were less than pleased with the one-sheet's tag line claiming that the killer was still loose on their streets). Collections of well-worn promotional material, including posters and publicity stills, as well as the theatrical trailer, are also featured on the two-disc set. --Paul Gaita
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