Tourist Trap

I'm a bit late to the Tourist Trap party and I don't know what to wear. For years, I'd heard stories from my friends about how they'd seen this film when they were children on TV or at the video store (somehow, this nightmarish flick was rated PG!) and how much it had traumatized them. I'm in my 40's now, but I found myself equally as traumatized during portions of this movie.

The plot is simple enough. Think Texas Chainsaw Massacre mixed with House of Wax with a dollop of Carrie thrown in and you'll get the idea. This is a movie that builds and builds until you realize you're standing in the middle of someone else's nightmare. The atmosphere is filled with doom and gloom and escape seems impossible.

The score by Pino Donaggio is equally as odd as the narrative itself. His opening theme is, perhaps, a bit too playful and doesn't do much to conjure an oppressive mood, but once the film starts kicking it into high gear, the imagery and performances do that by themselves as Donaggio's score becomes more and more lyrical and rather beautiful. It's like trying to imagine Ennio Morriconne scoring Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It doesn't always fit, but it sure is beautiful and makes the film even more bizarre than it already was.

Acting wise, no one is any worse than your typical slasher film, but Jocelyn Jones does stick out as being a bit more interesting than the others. There's a slightly haunted quality about her that I really loved and you get the sense that, in some ways, she might be as lost and stuck in the past as the Chuck Connors character. Just look at the way she's dressed as compared to her friends. She looks like she's ready for Sunday school.

The ending itself is incredibly haunting and I don't think I'll be forgetting about that one for quite awhile.

Tourist Trap more than deserves your time.

A group of young people breakdown in the middle of nowhere and set out in search of help. They find an old roadside museum filled with mannequins, run by an old guy named Mr. Slausen (Chuck Connors). Very quickly, the group realizes all is not right when, one-by-one, the friends go missing.

I'm shocked to see all of the glowing, 10/10 reviews for Tourist Trap. I've probably seen the movie three or four times over the years and it's never really done much for me. It's got too many faults for me to rate it average or above. First, the movie is horribly predictable and the final twist is easy to guess about 20 minutes in. There are no surprises. For the most part, the acting is abysmal. Chuck Connors is the only real "actor" in the cast. The group of friends aren't the brightest bulbs - and that's by horror movie standards. Could they have made it any easier for the killer? They each take a turn wandering around aimlessly and alone in the dark. It's hard to feel anything for people this stupid. Finally, unlike most reviews I've read, I've never found Tourist Trap all that atmospheric. Yes, there are some creepy moments, but overall, the movie's never worked on that level for me.

I always try to include the good side of any movie I watch, so here it is for Tourist Trap. Chuck Connor is good. He is the creepy part I was referring to earlier. Other than a few instances, Pino Donaggio's score is quite good. Much of the film's music belongs in a better movie than Tourist Trap. Finally, one of the movie's real highlights is Tanya Roberts' tube top. It's the center of attention in most scenes.

Three girls & two guys break down in the hills north of Los Angeles and are helped by the genial owner of a defunct desert museum with a penchant for spooky masks & mannequins (Chuck Connors).

"Tourist Trap" (1979) combines elements of several previous horror flicks, like "Psycho" (1960), the desert museum opening of "Gargoyles" (1972), "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" (1974), the telekinesis of "Carrie" (1976) and the creepy mannequins of several 70's movies/shows, including Kolchak: The Night Stalker ("The Trevi Collection"). It was made by the creator of "Puppetmaster" (1989) and heavily influenced "House of Wax" (2005); it even had an impact on the imminent "Friday the 13th" flicks.

If you like those movies you'll like this one. It's not as good as the better ones, and is overrated in some circles, but it's solid for a late 70's horror flick in the rural slasher mode. The highlights are Connor's sympathetic portrayal, the rural locations, the sets/props and, especially, the female cast, featuring Robin Sherwood (Eileen), Tanya Roberts (Becky) and Jocelyn Jones (Molly).

The film runs 1 hour, 30 minutes, and was shot in the Los Angeles area: Samma Ranch, Agua Dulce (near Vasquez Rocks) and Latigo Canyon, Malibu (the waterfall scene).

GRADE: B

During the late seventies and early eighties, Paramount Pictures began a streak of quality horror films paralleled only by the Universal Films of the thirties and forties. Exemplified by the Friday the 13th series, My Bloody Valentine, Silver Bullet, April Fools Day, Tourist Trap, and many others, these films, though headed by diverse directors, presented a singular atmospheric moodiness, attained through a mandated set of production techniques. As a result Paramount was able to consistently release films that seemed vaguely familiar in a comforting way, yet dealt with a wide variety of unique subject matters within the expansive slasher genre.

Tourist Trap evokes the carnival imagery of Tobe Hooper's The Funhouse, yet brings it within the guidelines of the Paramount Films from this era. The dark settings and unsettling mannequins and masks lend a scary non-human atmosphere to the film that belies it PG rating. The acting is consistently solid as can expected from Paramount films from this era. The characters are even likable, making their deaths all the more tragic and shocking when they inevitably occur, a rarity in the films of competing studios such as New World or Vestron during the same era, where deaths are treated as a comic or joyful event. Under-appreciated in its day, and nearly forgotten now, this film has truly withstood the test of time and has become a classic in the eyes of those who are lucky enough to revisit it. Do yourself a favor and pay a visit to this incredible "Tourist Trap".

Although widely under appreciated, "Tourist Trap" is still a notable and worthwhile entry into the horror genre. The first film directed by David Schmoeller (of Puppet Master fame). Pino Donaggio's score is nothing short of amazing; elevating the film to a whole other level in terms of both tension and atmosphere. Connors delivers a deliciously over the top performance as Mr. Slausen; the other actors are all competent considering that this is a low budget flick. For being close to 26 years old, the film has stood up extremely well - a creepy back woods setting, decent effects, and few hidden surprises in the script; it's worthwhile viewing for any horror enthusiast. A definite cult classic! My grade 8/10.