Worn out and not very scary, the sequel to the classic horror flick The Town that Dreaded Sundown tries to piggyback off the original, but comes up lame. The original 1976 release, as campy as it is, follows the crimes that actually happened in 1946 in the City of Texarkana and gives an aura of fear. Making a remake of the original film would have been better as the fear factor would still radiate from the real serial crimes that was never solved.
It’s now 2013 some 68 years following the murders in 1946 of several people by a phantom killer in the small town of Texarkana on the border of Arkansas and Texas. The small town still shows the 1976 film about the awful crimes at the local Two Star Drive-In movie theater on Halloween. On this night however, Jami (Addison Timlin) and Corey (Spencer Treat Clark) decide to leave the Drive-In for some intimate time in Lover’s Lane. Just when they start to get sexy, a hooded man approaches their car and smashes the driver side window forcing Corey out of the car and stabbing him to death.
Letting Jami escape to send notice of the phantom’s return, the killer puts the town in a state of fear. Chief Deputy Tillman (Gary Cole) heads up the case until it gets assigned to Texas Ranger Lone Wolf Morales (Anthony Anderson). The two try to figure it all out with the help of Jami. Director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon tries to keep his film compelling with a lot of “different” murders. He gets very gory with the deaths trying to kick it up a notch over the original, but even horror audiences will see through the folly of it all.
Most of the characters are too relaxed and lack energy as if nothing is going on in their town. The police are lackadaisical as if it’s all a prank. Even the high school kids aren’t all that frightened considering the multiple stabbings, slashed up students and a returning military man getting beheaded. At a vigil for three of the victims there’s even a shooting right in front of the students. They just stand there holding their candles as a policeman guns down the would be phantom. A little hysterics would have helped the scene. Just saying.
There are some positives that stand out in the film. The make-up, special effects and bodies on the railroad tracks are top notch. In one scene I couldn’t tell the real from the fake, especially the arrows going through Jami and the broken leg bone on the woman at the motel. I also like the camera work in the beginning tying in with the original 1978 film. Use of old photos from the original film did make the storyline somewhat convincing and the use of the original movie showing on the police station television was a good gimmick.
As for acting, the main stars look like they are walk-ons looking for a pay check. There’s no energy in their characters especially Texas Ranger Lone Wolf and Chief Deputy Tillman who are supposed to be solving the case to catch the killer instead of listening to Jami. Even Jami never really gets panic-stricken except one scene in the beginning and one later on in the film. She’s cool as a cucumber in the finale and can handle a handgun as if she had been practicing all her life.
The Town that Dreaded Sundown (2014) has been rated R by the MPAA for brutal violence, grisly images, strong sexual content, and language. If you are going to buy or rent the DVD, make sure you watch it at night without lights so you can get a “charge” out of your purchase. Pray for rain and lightning, that will help too. Oh, and no kids especially because of the sexual contact between teens.
FINAL ANALYSIS: A not so good sequel to the original classic. (D)
Specifications and additional video information:
Cast: Addison Timlin, Veronica Cartwright, Anthony Anderson, Gary Cole, Edward Herrmann
Director and writer: Alfonso Gomez-Rejon
MPAA Rating: R for brutal violence, grisly images, strong sexual content, and language
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Horror, Thriller, Remake
Running Time: 1 hr. 30 min.
Original Theatrical Release Date: October 17, 2014
Video Release Date: July 7, 2015
Language: English
Reviewed Format: DVD
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
Video: Aspect Ratio 2.40:1 Widescreen
Subtitles: None
Number of Discs: 1Disc
Distributed by: RLJ Entertainment
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
