The Town That Dreaded Sundown

Set in and around Texarkana in 1946, this crime thriller follows a small community thrown into panic when a masked attacker begins targeting young couples parked on quiet back roads. The local police, joined by a Texas Ranger, struggle to build a case as the violence continues and residents grow increasingly fearful. The investigation turns on the hunt for the person the press calls the Phantom Killer.

The film was directed by Charles B. Pierce, who also produced and appears in the cast. It is the first of the three features he directed, followed by Grayeagle and Sacred Ground. Earl E. Smith wrote the screenplay. Ben Johnson plays Morales, with Andrew Prine as Ramsey, Dawn Wells as Helen Reed, and Jimmy Clem, Jim Citty, Charles B. Pierce and others rounding out a credited cast of twenty. At 86 minutes, it is a compact genre entry from American International Pictures and Pierce's own production company.

Audience response has been moderate: on IMDb the film holds 6 out of 10 from around 11,000 votes, while on TMDB it sits at 5.8 out of 10 from roughly 228 votes. A critics' rating of 4.8 out of 10 from 13 reviews places it below the audience scores on both platforms, suggesting reviewers have been less generous than viewers toward the film.