Sorry, this movie sucks

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

The Town That Dreaded Sundown has its fair share of clichés, but that doesn't make it a bad film. It is probably the most "progressive" remake in the history of cinema, because it acknowledges the original 1970s film and the events that led to the film , and uses them as a pivotal part of the storyline in a manner that has never been done before. The writing, as i mentioned before, has some horror clichés in it, but the progressive way that the original film has been remade makes up for it right away after the first 15 minutes.Gomez-Rejon's directing has almost no flaws, he is superb in what I assume his feauture film debut, the use of light is extremely captivating, I guess we should thank the cinematographer as well as Gomez-Rejon for that. This film is a must-watch for the lovers of the genre and especially for the fans of the original film. I bet it would be a huge film if Blumhouse Productions was as highly valued as it is today back in 2014.

65 years ago, a masked man attacked residents of small town Texarkana. Now it appears the miscreant is back. Speaking with a modulated voice in slow deliberate tones, the 'moonlight murderer' begins his killing spree all over again.The production values are decent, the acting is convincing. So why do I find this tortuously dull? How can something with a fair amount of screaming teens and restrainedly gruesome killings not arrest my attention? Could it be that Jami (Addison Timlin) speaks in a monotone and insipid manner no matter what the emotion? To be fair to her, her contempories are often much the same. Far from the strutting posturers that frequent such films usually (which is a mercy), they are on the other end of the spectrum. Humbly mumbling their lines to one another, it is difficult to work out one character from another. Inoffensive –sweet even - to the point of inertia, these characters are barely even cyphers for the marauding killer, who is also without much in the way of presence.It may be that I am simply not in the mood for this, but there seems to be no life in any facet of the proceedings. Even the occasional sex scene fails to break free of this miasma. Why is the murderer doing these things? Just *because*, really. I feel bad about my nonchalance – after all, a great deal of work has presumably gone into creating this: the bleakness of the locale is nicely conveyed by Director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, and Ludwig Goransson's musical score is nicely haunting; there's a good set piece where a couple wake up to find their scarecrow perched on the wooden stand has been replaced by the bloody corpse of a young girl … and then within moments the lacklustre performance of those trying to solve the mystery drags things back down again. Sadly unengaging throughout.

I like the fact, that for once they don't remake a movie, but they sort of make a sequel of it. And you really don't need to know the original movie to enjoy this. Though I reckon if you've seen a couple of Wes Craven movies or horror movies in general you may see certain things coming. But it's not about predictability or that this indeed is a slasher movie in contrast to the original.Now I understand that there are too many flaws for some people to overlook. The story isn't really new, it's a bit slow and the ending might give you a headache. Not to mention it does not make that much sense (motivation etc.) and might stretch a couple of things just to go for twists. Still it has it's moments and if you like slasher movies, you will get something out of this

I never expect too much from horrors however, this has a certain stylish élan that raise it above the crowd. Set in Texarkana some 65 years after the town was devastated by a serial killer who only struck his victims at night – this was the Phantom or 'The Moonlight Killer. Since the making of a controversial film depicting the crimes the events have become more notorious. Then on the anniversary of his first killings he comes back... mwah etc.Only this time The Phantom wants a certain victim to tell the truth about what really happened all those years ago or he will keep on killing the hapless inhabitants. Problem is no one actually does know what really happened so how to stop him? Now this is surprisingly good. The blood and gore is there but not a splatter fest, nor is it 'torture porn', it gets the point (forgive the pun) across that being killed is far from being a red letter day.Maybe a mild plot spoiler later on!!It is all well acted with some performances that stand up to be noticed – like Travis Tope ('Boardwalk Empire') playing Nick and Anthony Anderson playing the fabulously named 'Lone Wolf Morales'. It also has high production values that are only let down by – what I felt – was a pretty lame ending. It did try so not a huge disappointment. This is one where the journey is the value and the final destination not all it promised in the brochure – despite that I would still recommend this well made and entreating film. You may never look at a sensor motion light in the same way again though.