Cast: Ben Johnson, Andrew Prine, Dawn Wells
PLOT: Our story takes place shortly after WWII. On Sunday, March 3, 1946, in Texarkana, Arkansas, a young couple goes on a date only to be attacked by a man in a white mask. He leaves the girl bloodied and close to death on the side of the road, begging for help. Luckily, she is taken to a hospital.
On Saturday, March 24, 1946, Deputy Norman Ramsey (Andrew Prine), takes car down to Lover's Lane when he hears gunshots. He happens upon a parked car with no one in it. He hears more gunshots. He encounters a dead man and a girl that has been tied to a tree, who is dead also.
After that, the town becomes fully equipped with resources to protect themselves against the killer. The police organize a search for the killer.
PROM NIGHT!!!! Sunday, April 14th. Wow, they pray at this prom! As Catholic as I am, that's kinda weird. We didn't pray at my prom, junior or senior year. We didn't dance to Amazing Grace, either. Then again, it IS the South...
The phantom killer is waiting again. This time, he preys on two prom-goers. The boy ends up getting into a fight with the man, while the girl runs for her life. She can't stay away for very long, though; the killer catches up to her and carries her away. Meanwhile, the young man gets up. I have to say, this girl does a horrible job of resisting. Seeing the young man rise, the killer pulls out a gun and shoots the kid, who falls dead. The killer then proceeds to use the totally unorthodox technique of hitting the girl by blowing a trombone into her back. Apparently that's painful. I was in band in high school, but I didn't play trombone, so I wouldn't know.
The police begin an investigation and, with the help of a black man, find the killer, who agrees to confess to the killings. However, he is let go after the police are convinced he's not the killer.
In May, a man is shot in his own home. The killer bangs open the door and shoots the man's lover. She escapes through a back door, but the killer pursues her. She finds her way to an elderly couple's house but does not die.
The day after, everyone boards up their windows and delivery boys wait till daylight to make their deliveries. By this time, reporters have found their way to Texarkana, having found out about the stories.
During the day, the police plan a stakeout. The killer is strangely out and, when fired at, runs away. He jumps in front of an oncoming train with the police after him. He reaches the other side, yet gets nailed by a great shot from Captain J.D. Morales (Ben Johnson). He gets away, and no one know where he is now.
REVIEW: Finally, TCM shows a legitimately scary horror movie! This was a great 70s thriller that had me on edge and wondering when the killer was going to strike next. Some of the concepts were a little...unorthodox, but other than that, it was a great thriller. 4 out of 5 stars.
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