Based on a true story from the 1940's this is a classic proto-slasher flick from Charles B. Pierce, the director of LEGEND OF BOGGY CREEK. I love the pseudo-documentary style that Mr. Pierce uses to set everything up and just give it that general feeling that what you're watching actually did happen just like the film shows. It almost feels like you're watching an old episode of IN SEARCH OF..., which I was a fan of as a kid. Pierce used this same documentary-like style in BOGGY CREEK, though that film didn't work quite as well from what I recall. The only slight downfall to this movie is the ridiculous bumbling cop scenes with inappropriate comedy bits thrown in. I feel like the film could have been much creepier without them. I mean imagine if in the middle of THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE some cop falls down and splits his pants while silly music plays. Kinda ruins the mood a bit. The Phantom Killer's sack-head look was the inspiration for Jason's fetching appearance in FRIDAY THE 13th Part 2. Dawn Wells(Mary Ann from GILLIGAN'S ISLAND) shows up as a victim of sack-face and another lady is killed using a trombone in a pretty original way. No where near as gory as the 80's films that came along later but way more effective than most of them in creating a well done mood of true life horror.
good point on comedic relife in TCM!
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