You could pretty much rebrand the 2014 “The Town That Dreaded Sundown” as “Scream 5” and not many people would know the difference. Except that no film in the “Scream” series has ever been this bold or subversive before. “The Town…” 2014 is a film about the influence of films that disturbs, polarizes, and effects greatly. There’s rarely any satire and zero tongue in cheek, just a mad man viciously murdering people to the tune of a very effective crime thriller/slasher film from 1976. I’d be hard pressed to call this a remake or a reboot, as it’s more a sequel than anything.
In its world, “The Town that Dreaded Sundown” is a highly influential film that’s made Texarkana a small notable place where a legendary horror film was set. Though many of the town elders consider the movie a chronicle of a horrific series of killings, nonetheless, it has its fans. During a Halloween screening, Jami (Addison Timlin) goes off with a close friend whom she rebuffs during an attempt to romance her, and the two are viciously attacked by a murderer donning a burlap sack much like the movie. Jami becomes a witness to the murders of her friend, and manages to get away with a few scratches. The town is driven in to hysteria once it’s made clear that someone is either imitating the movie, or perhaps even re-enacting the film as a devoted fan. Soon enough the murders continue with great aggression and, despite protests from police, Jami is convinced that the killer is related or connected to the actual murderer from the events the film was based on.
During the investigation in the seventies, people were accused, lives were ruined, and Jami is convinced someone is out to inflict revenge on Texarkana once again. Much of “The Town…” is played very seriously with incredibly cinematography and excellent direction by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon who paints much of the world Jami resides in as a hazy nightmare where she’s vulnerable at all times. Someone is donning the burlap mask, and she’s never sure who it is, or why she’s a target. It becomes clear the murders are very similar to the ones in the original film right down to the tee. Except the killer takes great pains to inflict as much pain and splatter as humanly possible, resulting in some brutally harsh murders. One murder in particular emulating the trombone killing in the original film is twisted with two young men sneaking off after a church gathering ultimately feeling more like punishment for being gay rather than simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Texarkana becomes an element for tension as it’s depicted as a bible belt town with its head firmly tucked in to its bibles, so soon its theocracy begins to decide the fate of its citizen, as well as manipulate the authorities and media on what information is given to the audience. “The Town” 2014 thoroughly examines the nature of serial murders and how it can inflict horror on the innocent, as well as the inherent influence of film on the general populace, especially one based around alleged fact. Gomez-Rejon’s direction is masterful, as he plays with shadows and darkness to really lend a horrifying omnipotence to our killer. One scene involving a character walking past blinking porch lights is fantastic, as well as the finale at the gas station, which was just brilliantly staged. “The Town” is complimented by a fine cast including Anthony Anderson, Gary Cole, Veronica Cartwright, and Joshua Leonard, while Addison Timlin does a stellar job. 2014’s “The Town That Dreaded Sundown” works wonderfully as a strong slasher in its own right that can either be watched with the original thriller, or as a stand alone love letter. Either way, it’s a creepy and eerie whodunit I highly recommend for slasher buffs.