The Town that Dreaded Sundown

In the spring of 1946,

in the small town of Texarkana, on the Texas-Arkansas border,

a series of horrific murders were committed

by a masked assailant known only as "The Phantom Killer."

For three harrowing months, the Phantom stalked the back roads of Texarkana,

following young couples looking for privacy to isolated areas,

where their screams for help would go unanswered.

Though several arrests were made in connection with the brutal slayings,

which ended as suddenly as they began,

the killer's identity was never confirmed.

Indeed, many people who lived through that nightmare time

believed the Phantom spent the rest of his days free,

walking the streets of Texarkana quietly, anonymously,

until his assumed death.

In 1976, a film inspired by the infamous Moonlight Murders was released.

Every year, on Halloween, The Town That Dreaded Sundown

is screened somewhere in Texarkana,

in tribute to the Phantom's legacy of death and blood.

Today, Texarkana is a place haunted by its past,

defined by a mystery that was never solved,

and a tragedy that could never be forgotten.

The following happened in Texarkana last year.

Sammy! Sammy!

You're not enjoying this, are you?

Oh, I just don't like these kinds of films so much.

Why didn't you say so?

We can go.

Really? Do you mean it?

Stop it!

I mean, man, the last time I saw this movie was when I was, like, 12.

God bless you and the Texarkana Fellowship Church invites you

to stop the Devil with gospel.

Hello, sister. You take a look at this now.

This is a godless film that you're watching here.

And I want you to listen to my broadcast on Friday

and come to church on Sunday. I'll tell you all about it.

Welcome back. This is KYGL, Oldies on the Border.

It's Halloween night, so if you're sitting at home,

waiting for the trick-or-treaters to come by, we'll keep you company with our usual...

Real people died, you know, young man.

Real people died. That's right. That's right.

It's a godless film and I want to see you on Sunday. We welcome you.

That's good. You leave. This is a godless film.

It's good that you're leavin'.

What?

I'm just having a good time with you, Jami.

The only reason I play football is to get a scholarship and go to SMU.

Yeah?

And how about you? Where'd you apply?

You did apply, right? You're, like, super smart.

Yeah. Yeah, I did. I applied to UT Austin,

NYU, and Cal State.

Wow. That's impressive.

Oh, I probably won't get in, but, you know, aim high.

You should.

My dad used to write for the Gazette, actually.

My grandma says it's in my blood, so...

Even though no one reads it, I like writing for the paper.

I could do that from here and stay close to my grandma.

- If I don't get in. - Right.

Well, I'm glad you finally said yes.

Me, too.

- Wait. - What?

Did I... did I do something wrong?

No.

What the hell is he doing?

He's just a Peeping Tom. He's not gonna do anything.

Corey, we don't know that.

But look.

See?

He just wanted a show.

He's just some asshole from the drive-in.

Let's just go, though. Is that okay?

Yeah.

- Get out of the car. - Don't, Jami. Stay in the car.

Get out of the fucking car or I'll shoot her in the face.

Do your momma and daddy know where you were tonight, boy?

The movie. Yes.

Well, what about yours?

They're dead.

Take your pants off.

- What? - Take off your fucking pants.

Corey, just do it.

Okay, all right.

- Come on, man. - Get down on the fuckin' ground.

- Corey. - Okay. All right, I am.

I'm not gonna run anywhere.

Now... Now, please, can...

can you just let her go?

No.

Please don't kill him.

You.

Turn around. Do not look back.

All right, if you want money, I can get you money.

- I don't want money. - What do you want?

I said don't look back.

What are you doing? What are... What are you...

- Shut the fuck up! - What are you doin'?

- Shut the fuck up. Shut the fuck up! - What are you doing?

- What the fuck are you doin'... - Corey!

- Please, no! No, please! - No!

Please.

No.

You looked.

This is for Mary.

Make them remember.

What are you doing? No, please, don't hurt me.

- Who is that? - What?

Oh, no. Please don't hurt me.

This is Texarkana 911. What is your emergency?

We're at the Twin Star Drive-In. We need an ambulance and the police.

Is someone injured?

Yes. A girl and maybe her boyfriend, I don't know. She is hysterical.

All right. All right.

He was on top of me. He could have killed me, but he didn't.

You say the Phantom told you something?

I don't know why, but he said he was doin' it for someone named Mary.

- Were you drinkin'? Doin' any drugs? - No.

Did the doctors find any drugs in her?

Well, as a precaution, we're gonna have someone in front of your house.

I... I can do that.

- Thank you. - Until we get some more information,

Jami, we'd like to ask you not to discuss any of this with the press.

They've been all over this story, as you can imagine.

Once again, for those just joining us, 24 hours after the shocking

Phantom-inspired murder of a 17-year-old high school student,

no arrests have been made.

It is unreasonable to try and find meaning in this grotesque and godless crime,

but that is exactly what we must do as a community.

Like a lost reel from The Town That Dreaded Sundown,

the attack on Halloween night took place in a secluded, wooded cul-de-sac,

just off Highway 6, an area that used to be called Lovers' Lane.

Grandma, do you remember anything about the murders?

Oh, dear girl, barely. Just what I heard later.

You know, your... great-grandpa and your great-grandma

lived in this house when it happened.

I remember my momma once said that it was like the town was being tested

and nobody knew why.

Even the grown-ups were scared.

He was the bogeyman, they said.

Can't catch the bogeyman. Can't kill the bogeyman.

His father is the devil and his mother is a whore.

You know, before that summer,

everybody would leave their doors unlocked.

And after the summer, you saw a stranger,

you wouldn't wave hello. You'd just cross the street.

And what about when they made the movie?

- What about it? - Were people still afraid?

The Phantom? No, that faded.

Nobody knew exactly who he was or what he did,

just that... he'd lived in this town

and attacked some teenagers on Lovers' Lane.

And then the movie brought it all back.

This is for Mary.

Humility, devotion, sacrifice.

Mr. Holland...

I just wanted you to know that he was so brave.

You left my baby boy!

- Margaret. - You slut!

- Margaret. - You slut! You left him!

It won't bring him back.

- You left my baby boy! - It won't...

I want my baby!

Given what you've been through,

I'd like to prescribe a mild anti-anxiety medication to help you...

No, ma'am. No, thank you.

I've spent the last seven years on all different kinds of medication

after my parents passed away. I'm not interested in anything like that.

In your file I read that you applied to colleges.

- To study... - Creative writing.

I'm not sure it's something I'm ready for, or made for that,

and leaving town... I...

I don't want to. Especially not now.

What about these dreams you've been having?

- What do you think they're about? - About Corey.

Well,

Corey asked me out and I was flattered.

I don't get asked out all that much.

So I just wanted to show him that...

I...

That I was...

- Grateful? - Yeah.

So...

when he suggested that we leave the movie,

I thought we could go someplace.

And even if we just kissed for a little while, he would like me more.

You didn't do anything wrong, Jami.

He was just a really good person.

He was just a really good person and he didn't deserve that.

He tried to protect me.

Jami.

Try writing about this.

It might help you find a way through it.

Baby!

Glad you made it home safe, baby!

Yes!

Oh, baby. I'm sore. I need a break.

...four in a row for you on KYGL.

There's a machine by the stairs.

If they got cookies, get me some cookies.