Danny! "[19] Bloody Disgusting praised the film's visuals but said "It’s unfortunate that the script can’t reach the same bar – particularly when it comes to the tired twist ending, which seems to exist simply because the filmmakers assumed audiences would expect it. [17], The film has been met with mixed to mostly positive reviews. In the end, the Phantom's shadow is seen stalking Jami. ", This page was last edited on 8 December 2020, at 07:13. [8] Some of its locals were recruited as extras. Though the film is about Texarkana, most of the film was shot in Shreveport, Louisiana in mid-May 2013 for a six-week shoot. So that's pretty useless. Variety found the film lacking and said "this tediously metatextual exercise conjures few inspired jolts of its own. and Tim are back with another episode of Double Murder! Downtown State Line Avenue was decorated with out-of-season Christmas decorations on June 12. Why We Need Another Remake In The 2020s, All the latest gaming news, game reviews and trailers. It may work or it may not work, but the fun is that we can try. I have had a really good working relationship with him. The Phantom suddenly attacks them, kills Corey, and tells Jami, "This is for Mary. A remake from producer Jason Blum was announced in 2013 with little fanfare. Academy Award winner Ben Johnson, TV mainstay Andrew Prine, and Gilligan’s Island’s Dawn Wells added to the legitimacy of the production. However, Sundown had a bigger budget, which allowed the filmmaker to hire a few marquee names to help sell the film. Foster reveals that he is McCreedy's grandson. Meanwhile, Jami learns that Charles B. With Addison Timlin, Veronica Cartwright, Anthony Anderson, Travis Tope. There, a suicidal teenager shows up dressed as the Phantom is killed, causing the townspeople to believe the murderer is actually dead. After leaving, Nick is killed by the Phantom. While leaving town, Jami pulls into a gas station. It is narrated by Vern Stierman, who had narrated Pierce's 1972 film The Legend of Boggy Creek. Dubbed the “Texarkana Moonlight Murders” by the press, eight people were attacked and five were murdered within the span of three months. The film stars Addison Timlin, Travis Tope, Spencer Treat Clark, Veronica Cartwright and Gary Cole and was one of the last films of Ed Lauter and Edward Herrmann before their deaths in October 2013 and December 2014, respectively. Since the 2014 film is a "meta-sequel”, there are several allusions to the original film, which is given more focus than the actual crimes. Inspired by horrific real-life events, director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon's horror remake The Town that Dreaded Sundown tells the tale of a masked serial killer who returns to terrorize a small Texas town 65 years after vanishing without a trace. Nick asks Jami out to a vigil for the Phantom victims. [16], On Rotten Tomatoes, the film received a 66% approval rating based on 29 reviews with an average rating of 5.98/10. MGM’s horror meta-remake from producers Jason Blum and Ryan Murphy has dropped its first trailer. Now, based on both the true story AND the movie, comes the "sequel", also entitled THE TOWN THAT DREADED SUNDOWN. The Town That Dreaded Sundown: 7 out of 10: Before I start with the spoiler let me say for the vast length of its running time The Town that Dreaded Sundown is a top quality horror film with good atmosphere and some genuinely top notch scenes. The Town That Dreaded Sundown (BluRay/DVD Combo) [Blu-ray] The Town that Dreaded Sundown (1976) With the remake just released I think it is a good time to go back and review the original The Town that Dreaded Sundown. Alfonso Gomez-Rejon's 2014 TOWN THAT DREADED SUNDOWN is half-remake & half-sequel. Brad Miska The Blumhouse remake of The Town That Dreaded Sundown is premiering at the BFI London Film Festival on October 18th and 14th, … One is Deputy Foster and the other is Corey, who faked his death. The newspapers called him The Phantom Killer, and referred to his crimes as The Texarkana Moonlight Murders. Not a straight remake of the 1976 cult horror movie, The Town That Dreaded Sundown is more a self-referential homage that takes the original film's legacy and embellishes it. A hooded killer terrorized citizens in rural areas surrounding the border between Texas and Kansas. Later, two days before Thanksgiving, Kendra Collins-Thompson and her boyfriend, Daniel Torrens, are killed by the Phantom while having sex at a motel. [13][14][15] The film was then released digitally on Video on Demand through Blumhouse Productions' new BH Tilt, a new label which releases films via multi-platform. The Final Wave Of Programming For FFX", "The Town That Dreaded Sundown at Beyond Fest", "Blumhouse launches Multi-platform arm BH Tilt", "The Town That Dreaded Sundown and other releases", "First Look at The Town That Dreaded Sundown (2014)", "The Town That Dreaded Sundown Reception", "Film Review: 'The Town That Dreaded Sundown, "[Review] 'Town That Dreaded Sundown' Is a Mixed Bag", "The Town That Dreaded Sundown review – a southern-fried Scream", "The Town That Dreaded Sundown review – tricksy horror sequel", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Town_That_Dreaded_Sundown_(2014_film)&oldid=993001227, Films with screenplays by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, "The museum is where their base of operations is, and then we're supplying the cars that are coming into the scenes where they shoot the movie. The character within the film even offers a potential lead regarding the (new) killer’s identity – blurring the lines between fact and fiction even further. A one-stop shop for all things video games. The Town That Dreaded Sundown is a 2014 American slasher film, a meta-sequel to the 1976 film of the same name. Peter Jackson's Lord of The Rings 4K Transfer Ruins The Original Look, The Town That Dreaded Sundown: Every Difference Between The Original & Remake, Texas Chainsaw Massacre’s Remake Reshot A Deleted Scene From A Bad Sequel, New Invasion of the Body Snatchers? It seems that with all the remakes of the last 10 years or so, there are also appearing some prequels & sequels that simply bear the same name as the original. Then, in 1976, the documentary-style film version hit theaters as THE TOWN THAT DREADED SUNDOWN. Jami tells Nick she is leaving in the morning and they have sex. She decides to tell her police escort, Deputy Foster, about the incident. Jason Blum Talks THE PURGE, the Benefit of a Limited Budget, Why Ethan Hawke Was Right for the Part, THE TOWN THAT DREADED SUNDOWN Remake, and More by Christina Radish June 5, 2013. The late Charles B. Pierce’s The Town That Dreaded Sundown was a low budget account of the Texarkana Moonlight Murders … The late Charles B. Pierce’s The Town That Dreaded Sundown was a low budget account of the Texarkana Moonlight Murders that occurred in 1946. In this installment, April will be revisiting the infamous Tekarkana murders which inspired the feature film The Town that Dreaded Sundown. As of February 2019, the film has grossed over $100k through video sales. Pierce gives his opinion that the new Phantom is McCreedy's grandson, because the family was angered that McCreedy's death was not remembered. Jami runs into the old Union train station and finds Nick's body. A post-modern remake was released in 2014 that used the original film and true crimes as a backdrop for a fictional narrative. Click the button below to start this article in quick view. Jami and Nick visit Charles Pierce Jr. and learn about Hank McCreedy, a sixth victim of the original Phantom whose story was forgotten. They discovered that he sent Jami the email, but they do not believe he is the Phantom. Related: Texas Chainsaw Massacre’s Remake Reshot A Deleted Scene From A Bad Sequel. That's the fun thing. [25], "Meta Version of The Town That Dreaded Sundown Finds Its Leading Lady", "Addison Timlin Joins Ryan Murphy's The Town That Dreaded Sunlight Remake", "Prolific Character Actor Ed Lauter Dies at 74", "Interview: Colby Boothman-Shepard, "The Town That Dreaded Showdown, "Jason Blum Talks THE PURGE and The Town That Dreaded Sundown Remake", "This Is It! This masked killer terrorized a small Southern city over a six month period in 1946. MGM is planning to remake the 1976 flick The Town That Dreaded Sundown.. 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A post-modern remake was released in 2014 that used the original film and true crimes as a backdrop for a fictional narrative. Five people were murdered by an unidentified assailant that the press dubbed The Phantom Killer. Johnny is shot to death before Roy is stabbed. Morales and Deputy Tillman visit Reverend Cartwright at his church. Similar to Pierce’s first film, The Legend of Boggy Creek, it captured the distinctive flavor of the area, which added a sense of authenticity that a major studio film could not replicate. I didn't know the [original] movie. Directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon. "[21] Fangoria gave the film three out of four skulls and said "the plot somewhat falls apart in the third act...But despite this disappointing final blow, TOWN THAT DREADED SUNDOWN is still well worth a visit. "[24], Image Entertainment acquired the U.S. home video distribution rights and released the film on DVD and Blu-ray exclusively at Best Buy on July 7, 2015. News of the bizarre and horrific killings transfixed an entire nation on the small town of Texarkana, Texas in early 1946, and the case remains one of the most notorious unsolved crimes in U.S. history. As a horror film, TTTDS 2014 is a nice slasher throwback. The Town That Dreaded Sundown was a 1976 docudrama based on unsolved murders in Texarkana in 1946. They want '60s- and '70s- era cars. The crew then finished filming in Shreveport. The Town That Dreaded Sundown is a remake/meta-sequel that earns points for some surprisingly mean-spirited violence, and for having as innovative … When Jason Blum was asked in an interview why he wanted to remake the original film, he responded: And the whole point of why my business exists and why I'm such a fanatic about making movies inexpensively is that you get to do different stuff. It's a really weird movie to remake, and I really like doing weird things.[7]. [9] Filming in Texarkana began Monday, June 17 and ended in the early morning of June 20. "[22] Jonathan Romney of The Guardian gave the film three stars and called it "a southern-fried Scream" and said it "proves that a brazen lack of originality doesn’t preclude inventiveness and brio. However, band members Johnny and Roy go to a lonely junkyard to experiment sexually, where they are attacked by the real Phantom. The Town That Dreaded Sundown takes an interesting route for a remake by acknowledging its past and trying to create something interesting for modern audiences while still holding reverence for its origin; while certainly different, both versions are worthwhile entries in the slasher sub-genre. The Phantom then calls Jami with Corey's phone, telling her, "I'm going to do it again and again until you make them remember." Charles B Pierce did … The town that dreaded sundown is a great, but extremely low-budget movie. While Foster is attacking Jami, she finds the gun and shoots Foster to death, but it is stated that his body was never found. Corey Holland and Jami Lerner leave the film to talk and kiss in a secluded area. On October 31, 2013, in the small town of Texarkana, the local drive-in theater is hosting the Halloween annual showing of the 1976 film The Town That Dreaded Sundown, based on the true story of the Phantom Killer who murdered several people in Texarkana in 1946. We just wanted to try it. Corey goes on to brag about how everyone will know what he did, and decides to kill her for this, but is then shot and killed by Foster who plans to kill Jami as well and blame the killings on her and Corey. The go-to source for comic book and superhero movie fans. of The Town That Dreaded Sundown… Jami receives an email from the Phantom, takes it to the police, and reveals her theories about the crimes but they are disproven. When the film was made available the following year, both horror fans and critics were pleasantly surprised at the results. "[23] However, Benjamin Lee also writing for The Guardian gave it two stars and called it "cookie cutter carnage. So, first there were the original, actual 1946 Texarkana "Phantom" murders. At the police station, Texas Ranger Lone Wolf Morales takes over the investigation. The Town That Dreaded Sundown was a disturbing 1976 docudrama based on a string of murders that took place in and around Texarkana in 1946. I think he thinks about horror in a really unique way. The Town That Dreaded Sundown was a disturbing 1976 docudrama based on a string of murders that took place in and around Texarkana in 1946. [3] Directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon in his feature-length directorial debut, the film was written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa[4] and produced by Jason Blum and Ryan Murphy. On Christmas Eve, Tillman and a woman he brought home from a bar are killed by the Phantom. The slasher flick was based on five unsolved, grisly murders in 1946 … Jami is helped with her research into the killings by her former classmate Nick Strain. Next: New Invasion of the Body Snatchers? While Gomez-Rejon’s film relies a little heavily on post-Scream meta posturing, it manages to be a fairly tense and involving film in its own right. While immobile, she is confronted by two Phantom Killers. Pierce, and written by Earl E. Smith.The film is loosely based on the 1946 Texarkana Moonlight Murders, crimes attributed to an unidentified serial killer known as the Phantom Killer. This month, they tackle the original and remake (or is it a sequel?) The Town That Dreaded Sundown is a remake of the classic docudrama about the Phantom Killer who terrorized Texarkana in 1946. The remake takes place in present-day Texarkana with the annual Halloween screening of the 1976 film at a local drive-in. Aside from the hooded killer and the location, the two films are completely different. Almost 45 years after Charles B. Pierce’s original THE TOWN THAT DREADED SUNDOWN was released in 1976, small indie horror director, Brandon Neil Schultz is working on getting a remake of the film in the works. The Town That Dreaded Sundown was a 1976 docudrama that was based on actual crimes committed in Texarkana in 1946. The long gone serial killer seemingly returned again. I think he is an amazing, creative force, especially with horror. Not a straight remake of the 1976 cult horror movie, The Town That Dreaded Sundown is more a self-referential homage that takes the original film's legacy and embellishes it. Jami is told that McCreedy had a wife named Mary. That's what got me interested in it. So, he pitched it to me and I really wanted to work with him. As I understand the movie, it's going to be kind of like a flashback kind of thing. Though there was a substantial fanbase for the original film, few were even aware that a new version was in production. Pierce's son is still alive and lives in Texarkana. The cold case of the Texarkana Phantom is a story unlike any other. The Town That Dreaded Sundown had its first screening at the 10th Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas on September 18–25, 2014, which director Gomez-Rejon attended,[10] and then later at Beyond Fest in Los Angeles, California on October 4, 2014. [5] The film was released on October 16, 2014 by Orion Pictures to positive reviews. Genres:Drama, Crime, Thriller, Horror, Mystery. When Jason Blum was asked in an interview why he wanted to remake the original film, he responded: Ryan Murphy found the movie, brought it to me and said, "I wanna do it". While lacking in narrative drive, The Town That Dreaded Sundown was a genuinely unsettling thriller that used its rural location and local actors to great effect. Following the events of the low-budget 1976 slasher from Charles B. The Town That Dreaded Sundown is a 1976 American thriller film directed and produced by Charles B. I didn't find it. There, the Phantom starts firing from a window in a nearby building, killing Lillian and several other people. Comment. When you don't have a $20 million horror film, which is a typical horror movie studio budget, or a $180 million tent-pole budget, looming down at you, you can try new stuff. "[20] Empire Online gave the film three stars and called it "Smart, fun, mid-list horror with Scream overtones. A hooded phantom begins killing people again, this time with a connection to a teenage girl (Addison Timlin) who begins to investigate the crimes. [12] Both Deadline Hollywood and Bloody Disgusting indicated that the film would be released by Orion Pictures, a long-dormant subsidiary of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, in select theaters on October 16, 2014. The next day, residents secure their houses and go to a town meeting. "[18] Chris Tilly of IGN said the film was "ultimately, not very good. Johnny is beaten and Roy gets tied up, whereupon the Phantom recreates the trombone weapon from the original film. the town that dreaded sundown 2 stars, out of 5 Snapshot : A remake/sequel of the 1976 slasher film about a Texas-Arkansas border town terrorized by … Jami leaves Texarkana and moves on with her life, later going to college. Shined-up studio remakes of grindhouse horror classics are usually best appreciated by viewers unfamiliar with the original films’ scruffy texture, but Alfonso Gomez-Rejon ’s … The great thing about it, though, is the direction. She is shot down by arrows while trying to escape. Alongside the rural horrors of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Deranged, it rode the popular wave of slasher films from that period. The Town That Dreaded Sundown (2014) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. The basic story of a masked killer in Texarkana remains the same, however, the original film actually exists in the remake and serves as the springboard for all the action. This is a film that truly deserved the remake because it is cult, low budget, interesting premise and with a bit of a touchup it could do wonders. Pierce’s film was a modest hit on the exploitation circuit, but became a popular video title in the '80s. Make them remember." The TV maverick behind American Horror Story produced this new version of the cult '70s slasher The Town That Dreaded Sundown with prolific horror producer Jason Blum, and delivered a … While it claimed to be a remake, Alfonso Gomez-Rejon’s film was, in reality, a post-modern follow-up which acknowledged the Pierce film as well as the actual murders in the 1940s. [11] Its international debut was at the BFI London Film Festival on October 14, 2014. Lillian, Jami's grandmother, finds out that Jami was accepted into a college in California and decides to move there so Jami can go to school. He brought it to me. Three of those days were filmed in Texarkana. Pierce, The Town … Loosely based on the crimes, it used a docudrama format to add weight to what was essentially a horror film capitalizing on the infamous incident. Charles Pierce Jr., an actual person who appeared in several of his father’s films, is a character in the follow-up, played by actor Denis O’Hare (American Horror Story). Corey tries to convince Jami they are the same--- that Texarkana trapped them in roles in society that they hated--- but she adamantly rejects his claim. Sequel? 100k through video sales her police escort, Deputy Foster, about the incident the two are. Mccreedy, a meta-sequel to the 1976 film at a local drive-in the following year both. 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