Tourist Trap (1979)

Director:

David Schmoeller

Writers:

David Schmoeller (written by) and
J. Larry Carroll (written by)

Release Date:

16 March 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery

Tagline:

Every year young people disappear

Plot:

A group of young friends stranded at a secluded roadside museum are stalked by the owner of the place, who has the power to control his collection of mannequins.

Plot Keywords:

Mannequin | Mask | Friend | Museum | Possession

Cast

Chuck Connors	...	Mr. Slausen
Jocelyn Jones	...	Molly
Jon Van Ness	...	Jerry
Robin Sherwood	...	Eileen
Tanya Roberts	...	Becky
Dawn Jeffory	...	Tina
Keith McDermott	...	Woody
Shailar Coby	...	Davey
Arlecchino	...	Mannequin
Victoria Richart	...	Mannequin
Millie Dill	...	Mannequin

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-18 | West Germany:18 | Italy:VM18 (DVD rating) | Australia:M | France:-12 | UK:15 | USA:PG

Company:

Compass International Pictures

Trivia:

Connors' "parents" in the movie were actually played by Schmoeller's parents.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: In the scene where Tanya Robert's character Becky is stabbed and she is in the process of collapsing, you can see the reflection of a bearded crew member in the glass on the cupboard door.

Quotes:

[repeated line]
Davey: You're so pretty.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Fade to Black (1980)

Incredibly creepy seventies slasher

The slasher sub-genre has been pretty much exhausted - in fact, even by 1979, just one year after the supposed 'first slasher', Halloween (which was released seven years after Bay of Blood), was released; the sub-genre wasn't far from being exhausted; but Tourist Trap represents one of the more original outings. The film follows the same basic formula as most slashers - i.e. madman murders a load of kids, but draws its originality from the fact that madman is shown from the beginning (as opposed to an unseen assailant or a man in a mask) and we actually get some insight into his character. The fact that this killer also has telekinetic abilities, including being able to control the wax dummies that fill his house, adds to the originality. We kick off with a great opening sequence, which sees a young man fall foul of having a flat tire after finding himself in a gas station of terror. The scene is amazingly creepy, as the wax dummies taunt him and things fly from the shelves - and it gives the audience a great insight into what is to come; namely, a very creepy horror film!

The acting credibility is as non-existent as you would expect from a seventies slasher, but to be honest; it's not all that bad. The girls look hot, the boys don't really matter; and Chuck Connors is more than adequately creepy in the role of the psycho. He's not exactly Anthony Perkins; but still, good enough. It's not the acting that's the star of the show, however, and as you might expect - the creepy atmosphere takes that prize. Wax models, as proved by the likes of House of Wax (Vincent Price version...) are very creepy; and the film makes best use of that fact. There are very few things in cinema that can be frightening by simply being there - but wax statues are definitely one of those things. The killer's special ability could easy have gotten in the way of the atmosphere, but the film makes best use of this fact, even, by having various things fly off shelves and it goes well with the rest of the movie. On the whole, this is a very good film. While Tourist Trap might not be absolutely essential viewing; it's well worth seeing and I can recommend it.