Dark Outdoors Cinema Archives

On March 15, 2026, I had the chance to be part of something that felt less like an event and more like stepping straight into a living piece of true crime and film history involving the infamous Phantom Killer of Texarkana.

Hosted by On Set Cinema and Myers House NC organized the screening of The Town That Dreaded Sundown in Texarkana was one of those rare experiences where atmosphere, storytelling, and fandom all collide.

From the moment check-in began at Silvermoon on Broad, you could feel the energy. Fans of the film, true crime enthusiasts, and curious newcomers gathered with a shared sense of anticipation. And then—there he was.

The “Andy guy” everyone was talking about: Andy Abele, fully suited up in the Phantom Killer costume, casually posing for photos like he had just stepped off the set. Knowing he portrayed the Phantom in the meta sequel made those photo ops even cooler—it was like the legend had stepped right out of the screen and into the streets of Texarkana.

He was super engaging with fans which made the event extra special attendees.

Walking Through the Legend

The evening wasn’t just about watching a movie. It was about walking into the story. The guided tour leading up to the screening added a whole new dimension, grounding the film in the real-life terror of the Texarkana Moonlight Murders. By the time the movie started the line between fiction and reality had already begun to blur.

A tour of Texarkana filming locations was lots of fun.

As someone who has long been a fan of the original 1976 film, seeing it presented this way was something special. That gritty, semi-documentary style that made it so unsettling decades ago still holds up today.

And I’ll say this—I’m also a big fan of the meta sequel, which took a bold approach by folding the original film into its own narrative. Seeing both interpretations come together in spirit at this event made the experience even richer.

Dark Outdoors & The Real Story Behind the Phantom

A big part of why this event resonated so deeply with me is tied to the my Dark Outdoors® podcast—especially the episode I created focused on the Phantom Killer case.

Listen and subscribe here.

In this deep-dive episode, I explore:

How the Phantom Killer operated—and what those methods reveal about similar predators today
A rare eyewitness account of a white-masked figure seen during the original attacks
Insights from John Tennison, a clinical psychiatrist and first cousin once removed of one of the top Phantom Killer suspects
Behind-the-scenes stories from Pamula Pierce Barcelou
And even a personal brush with danger that underscores why awareness still matters

It’s one of the most intense investigations I’ve done—blending true crime, history, film, and real-world outdoor safety.

A Book in the Works… and Fouke Monster Festival

Experiencing this event firsthand has only fueled my own creative fire. I’m currently writing a book centered around this very subject—the Phantom Killer, the cultural impact of the film, and the ongoing fascination with this case.

I’m excited to share that the book is planned for release at the upcoming Fouke Monster Festival in Fouke, Arkansas, happening April 24–25, 2026—and I’ll also be there speaking about this case, the research behind it, and the connections between true crime, film, and outdoor awareness.

You can find full details and tickets here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-fouke-monster-festival-tickets-1736171047339

If you’re into cryptids, folklore, Southern mysteries—or legends like the Fouke Monster made famous in The Legend of Boggy Creek—this festival is absolutely worth the trip.

Final Thoughts: Don’t Miss These Events

What On Set Cinema and Myers House NC are doing with these screenings is something truly unique. It’s not just about watching a movie—it’s about experiencing it. The attention to detail, the atmosphere, the guest appearances—it all comes together in a way that feels authentic and memorable.

I highly recommend attending any event they put together. Whether you’re a horror fan, a true crime buff, or just someone looking for something different, these events deliver.

Texarkana will always carry the shadow of the Phantom—but for one night, we got to step into that shadow, face it, and appreciate the stories it continues to inspire.

Chester Moore

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Email Chester at chester@chestermoore.com.

Every October, when the nights stretch long and the woods start whispering again, horror fans search for stories that blur the line between imagination and reality. But few tales straddle that line quite like the time a zombie fought a shark underwater — a scene so strange it could only come from the wild edges of both cinema zombie and nature.

Yes, it really happened — sort of.

In 1979, Italian horror maestro Lucio Fulci unleashed Zombi 2 (released in the U.S. as Zombie), featuring an unforgettable moment: a decaying corpse wrestling a tiger shark in the crystal waters off Mexico. It’s been called everything from absurd to genius — but no one ever forgets it.

Producer Ugo Tucci, inspired by the cheesy shark thriller Tintorera, insisted on an underwater zombie-shark showdown. Fulci balked — how could that possibly work? But Tucci’s persistence (and perhaps madness) prevailed, resulting in one of horror’s strangest triumphs.

The shoot took place off Isla Mujeres, Mexico, using a real tiger shark — not a prop. The crew allegedly fed the animal beforehand to “keep it mellow” (whatever that means when you’re swimming with a shark). The zombie was played by Ramón Bravo, a famed underwater photographer and shark trainer whose calm under pressure made the impossible scene happen.

🌊 The Surreal Showdown

In the film, a diver explores a reef — unaware that something unnatural is drifting up from the abyss. A zombie, still in its burial clothes, lurches through the blue. Out of nowhere, a tiger shark charges. What follows is both horrifying and hypnotic: the zombie grapples with the shark, even bites it back, a grotesque ballet of nature versus nightmare.

It shouldn’t work. But it does. And it’s never been replicated.

💀 From Screen to Swamp: The “Real” Zombies Among Us

Here’s where things get Dark Outdoors. While Fulci’s zombie was pure fiction, stories of real zombification go back centuries — and some are disturbingly close to home.

In Haitian folklore (and in documented cases studied by ethnobotanists), victims were allegedly poisoned with tetrodotoxin, a neurotoxin found in pufferfish, that slowed the body’s functions to near-death. Later, they “rose” again — dazed, compliant, and changed — fueling the original zombie myths.

And then there are the American backwoods stories — eerie accounts from hunters, campers, and farmers who swear they’ve seen “figures” running through fields long after midnight. Not ghosts. Not drunks. Something else. Pale faces. Vacant eyes. Moving just wrong enough to freeze you where you stand.

No proof, of course. Just stories — the kind that spread over campfires, down rural roads, and across podcasts like Dark Outdoors, where the line between wilderness and nightmare is always a little blurry.

🎃 Final Thought: Beware the Things That Lurk in Both Worlds

As Halloween draws near, remember: not all monsters stay on the screen. Some walk — or swim — among us. Others run through the fields at night, between the rows of dead corn, under a moon that looks just a little too full.

And if you hear something splash, shuffle, or whisper just beyond the treeline — maybe think twice before going to look.