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      The Town That Dreaded Sundown

      2014, Horror/Mystery & thriller, 1h 25m

      29 Reviews 2,500+ Ratings

      What to know

      Critics Consensus

      It may occasionally mistake more gore for genuine terror, but The Town That Dreaded Sundown is just stylish and clever enough to justify this second stab at the source material. Read critic reviews

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      The Town That Dreaded Sundown  Photos

      The Town That Dreaded Sundown (2014) The Town That Dreaded Sundown (2014) The Town That Dreaded Sundown (2014) The Town That Dreaded Sundown (2014) The Town That Dreaded Sundown (2014)

      Movie Info

      A masked maniac terrorizes the same small community where a murderer known as the Phantom Killer struck decades earlier.

      • Rating: R (Language|Grisly Images|Brutal Violence|Strong Sexual Content)

      • Genre: Horror, Mystery & thriller

      • Original Language: English

      • Director: Alfonso Gomez-Rejon

      • Producer: Jason Blum, Ryan Murphy

      • Writer: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa

      • Release Date (Theaters):  limited

      • Release Date (Streaming):

      • Runtime:

      • Distributor: Orion Pictures

      • Production Co: Blumhouse Productions, Metro Goldwyn Mayer

      • Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

      Cast & Crew

      Gary Cole
      Edward Herrmann
      Joshua Leonard
      Denis O'Hare
      Anthony Anderson
      Ed Lauter
      Jeanette Volturno
      Jessica Malanaphy
      Michael Goi
      Joe Leonard
      Ludwig Göransson
      Hannah Beachler
      Stephani Lewis
      Eileen Dennehy
      Elizabeth Humphrey

      News & Interviews for The Town That Dreaded Sundown

      Critic Reviews for The Town That Dreaded Sundown

      Audience Reviews for The Town That Dreaded Sundown

      • Oct 19, 2018

        It's not the first horror sequel/remake to engage in meta commentary, but it's probably the only one where the original film is unremarkable and mostly forgotten. As a result, the killer's desire here to be remembered takes on a unique significance. Obviously it all falls apart by the end, but the movie is still an oddity worth checking out.

        Super Reviewer
      • Jul 26, 2015

        A meta-sequel to the first film in which Texarkana experienced a series of murders based on the film 65 years later. It was very well directed even though the acting was terrible, there were some plot holes but overall it served as a sequel worthy of the title.

        Super Reviewer
      • May 08, 2015

        Interesting, but not that great. I do like how it kind of breaks the fourth wall and plays off of the 1970s film, as well as the real events to some extent, and gives an idea of what it's like to live in a town whose history is overshadowed by horrible events.

        Stephen S Super Reviewer
      • May 01, 2015

        The concept behind the film, The Town That Dreaded Sundown, is actually a lot more interesting then the film itself. From the minds behind American Horror Story, comes a tale that is based on the true story of The Phantom Killer, who was active in Texarkana, Texas during 1946. The story was originally turned into a successful film in 1975, but rather than re-make it or do a sequel, the writers went in a totally different direction, one that I've never seen before. This film takes place in 2014 and acknowledges the story and even the previous film. In fact, clips of the original film are seen throughout this movie, and even the son of the original Director plays a part in this new film, which sees the Phantom Killer return after a nearly 70 year absence. Addison Timlin stars, following her leading role in Odd Thomas, and with new challenges comes experience. While I loved Odd Thomas, I thought she was terrible, but in this film it's a complete turn around, as Timlin is the strong female lead a film like this requires. As for the film itself, besides it's interesting play on the previous film, it really wasn't much more than your typical whodunit slasher film. Interesting to note though, unlike the first film, this movie was shot at the actual crime scenes from 1946. It also marks the last on screen appearances of both Edward Herrmann (Gilmore Girls) and Ed Lauter (Shameless, ER) who died shortly after filming. I love the concept of this film, it displays just how talented and imaginative the team behind American Horror Story and the upcoming American Crime Story really are, but overall, if you've seen one slasher film, sadly, you've seen them all.

        Super Reviewer

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