History YMMV / TheTownThatDreadedSundown

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: ''Film/TheTownThatDreadedSundown'' was one of the earliest examples of the SlasherFilm, predating even ''Film/Halloween1978'' (which is usually considered the TropeCodifier for the genre) and inspiring elements of the ''Franchise/FridayThe13th'' series. However, many modern horror fans find the film to be rather dull compared to those franchises, with its lower body count and [[PoliceProcedural greater focus on the investigative process]] than the killer himself.

* CompleteMonster: The two [[SerialKiller Phantom Killers]] from the 2014 version, [[spoiler:Deputy Foster and Corey Holland]], [[JackTheRipoff seek to emulate]] the infamous real-life Phantom Killer of Texarkana and the film based on his crimes. The pair [[spoiler:fake Corey's death]] as the first victim by murdering a drifter and [[spoiler:substituting his body]]. The two then proceed to butcher a returning soldier and his girlfriend, followed by slaughtering two young band members. Growing bolder, the two murder [[CopKiller a member of the police force]] and a woman he picked up for the night before focusing on Jami, the main character. They kidnap and murder Jami's current lover Nick, and gun down her grandmother, a bystander, and a store clerk before capturing Jami herself. After Jami's capture, [[spoiler:Corey]] explains that he didn't want to be seen as a nobody, while [[spoiler:Foster]] wanted to ensure his grandfather was remembered as a victim of the original Phantom. After each gives their MotiveRant, [[spoiler:Foster]] shoots [[spoiler:Corey]] in the head in order to [[FrameUp frame]] him for everything before trying to kill Jami.

* CompleteMonster: In the 2014 sequel/remake, we have the two Phantom Killers: [[spoiler:Deputy Foster and Corey Holland]]. Seeking to emulate the [[VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory infamous real-life]] Phantom Killer of Texarkana, the pair [[spoiler:fake Corey's death as the first victim]] by murdering a drifter and [[spoiler:substituting his body]]. The two then proceed to butcher a returning soldier and his girlfriend, followed by slaughtering two young band members. Growing bolder, the two murder a member of the police force and a woman he picked up for the night before focusing on Jami, the main character. They kidnap and murder Jami's current lover Nick, and gun down her grandmother and a store clerk before capturing Jami herself. [[spoiler:Corey]] reveals his motivation is to simply be someone "important" and not just another nobody from Texarkana, moments before the other killer (a grandson of a forgotten victim of the original Phantom) shoots him in the head in order to [[FrameUp frame]] him for everything before trying to kill Jami.

** NarmCharm: That being said, many people find that the trombone murder is such a RefugeInAudacity that it becomes frightening again, as it shows [[AxCrazy just how unhinged]] the Phantom Killer is. [[WordOfGod Charles B. Pierce]] recalled that many viewers at the premiere were visibly unnerved by the scene.
* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: ''Film/TheTownThatDreadedSundown'' was one of the earliest examples of the SlasherFilm, predating even ''{{Film/Halloween}}'' (which is usually considered the TropeCodifier for the genre) and inspiring elements of the ''Series/FridayThe13th'' series. However, many modern horror fans find the film to be rather dull compared to those franchises, with its lower body count and [[PoliceProcedural greater focus on the investigative process]] than the killer himself.

* {{Narm}}: The original has a number of comic relief scenes, most of which are more annoying than funny, and then there's the infamous bladed-trombone murder.

* CompleteMonster: In the 2014 sequel/remake, we have the two Phantom Killers: [[spoiler: Deputy Foster and Corey Holland]]. Seeking to emulate the [[VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory infamous real-life]] Phantom Killer of Texarkana, the two [[spoiler:fake Corey's death as the first victim]] by murdering a drifter and [[spoiler:substituting his body]]. The two then proceed to butcher a returning soldier and his girlfriend, followed by slaughtering two young band members. One is killed by a bayonet tied to a trombone as the killer plays it. Growing bolder, the two murder a member of the police force and a woman he picked up for the night before focusing on Jami, the main character. They kidnap and murder Jami's current lover Nick, gun down her grandmother and a store clerk before capturing Jami herself. [[spoiler: Corey]] reveals his motivation is to simply be someone "important" and not just another nobody from Texarkana, moments before the other killer (a grandson of a forgotten victim of the original Phantom) shoots him in the head with intent on [[FrameUp framing him]] for everything before trying to kill Jami.

* CompleteMonster: In the 2014 sequel/remake, we have the two Phantom Killers: [[spoiler: Deputy Foster and Corey Holland]]. Seeking to emulate the [[VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory infamous real-life]] Phantom Killer of Texarkana, the two fake [[spoiler: Corey's]] death as the first victim by murdering a drifter and substituting his body. The two then proceed to butcher a returning soldier and his girlfriend, followed by slaughtering two young band members. One is killed by a bayonet tied to a trombone as the killer plays it. Growing bolder, the two murder a member of the police force and a woman he picked up for the night before focusing on Corey's old girlfriend Jami. They kidnap and murder Jami's current lover Nick, gun down her grandmother and a store clerk before capturing Jami herself. [[spoiler: Corey]] reveals his motivation is to simply be someone "important" and not just another nobody from Texarkana, moments before the other killer (a grandson of a forgotten victim of the original Phantom) shoots him in the head with intent on [[FrameUp framing him]] for everything before trying to kill Jami.
* [[HeyItsThatGuy Hey, It's That Gal!]]: One of the would-be victims In the original film is [[Series/GilligansIsland Mary Ann]].

* CompleteMonster: In the 2014 sequel/remake, we have the two Phantom Killers: [[spoiler: Deputy Foster and Corey Holland]]. Seeking to emulate the [[VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory infamous real-life]] Phantom Killer of Texarkana, the two fake [[spoiler: Corey's]] death as the first victim by murdering a drifter and substituting his body. The two then proceed to butcher a returning soldier and his girlfriend, followed by slaughtering two young band members. One is killed by a bayonet tied to a trombone as the killer plays it. Growing bolder, the two murder a member of the police force and a woman he picked up for the night before focusing on Corey's old girlfriend Jami. They kidnap and murder Jami's current lover Nick, gun down her grandmother and a store clerk before capturing Jami herself. [[spoiler: Corey]] reveals his motivation is to simply be someone "important" and not just another nobody from Texarkana, moments before the other killer (a grandson of a forgotten victim of the original Phantom) shoots him in the head with intent on [[FrameUp framing him]] for everything before trying to kill Jami.

* CompleteMonster: In the 2014 sequel/remake, we have the two Phantom Killers: [[spoiler: Deputy Foster and Corey Holland]]. Seeking to emulate the infamous real-life Phantom Killer of Texarkana, the two fake [[spoiler: Corey's]] death as the first victim by murdering a drifter and substituting his body. The two then proceed to butcher a returning soldier and his girlfriend, followed by slaughtering two young band members. One is killed by a bayonet tied to a trombone as the killer plays it. Growing bolder, the two murder a member of the police force and a woman he picked up for the night before focusing on Corey's old girlfriend Jami. They kidnap and murder Jami's current lover Nick, gun down her grandmother and a store clerk before capturing Jami herself. [[spoiler: Corey]] reveals his motivation is to simply be someone "important" and not just another nobody from Texarkana, moments before the other killer (a grandson of a forgotten victim of the original Phantom) shoots him in the head with intent on [[FrameUp framing him]] for everything before trying to kill Jami.

* CompleteMonster: In the 2014 sequel/remake, we have the two Phantom Killers: [[spoiler: Deputy Foster and Corey Holland]]. Seeking to emulate the infamous real-life Phantom Killer of Texarkana, the two fake [[spoiler: Corey's]] death as the first victim by murdering a drifter and substituting his body. The two then proceed to butcher a returning soldier and his girlfriend, followed by slaughtering two young band members. One is killed by a bayonet tied to a trombone as the killer plays it. Growing bolder, the two murder a member of the police force and a woman he picked up for the night before focusing on Corey's old girlfriend Jami. They kidnap and murder Jami's current lover Nick, gun down her grandmother and a store clerk before capturing Jami herself. [[spoiler: Corey]] reveals his motivation is to simply be someone "important" and not just another nobody from Texarkana, moments before the other killer shoots him in the head with intent on [[FrameUp framing him]] for everything before trying to kill Jami.