Tourist Trap (1979) Review
If you love fun horror classics that strike a great balance between familiar formulas and fresh scares, then Tourist Trap absolutely deserves a spot on your must-see list. Originally released in 1979, there’s a lot about it to love if 70’s slasher flicks are your jam of choice. Tourist Trap is directed by David Schmoeller (Puppet Master, Crawlspace) and stars Chuck Connors (Maniac Killer, Horror at 37k feet), Robin Sherwood (The Love Butcher), and Jocelyn Jones among others.
One glance at the synopsis of Tourist Trap is virtually guaranteed to give you déjà vu, as this film makes good use of plot staples any horror fan will be familiar with. An unwitting group of young people stuck in the middle of nowhere? Check. Creepy mannequins, the sight of which are haunting on their own? Of course. A little telekinesis thrown in for good measure? Yes, it’s got that too. Don’t worry though. You only think you know what to expect from this wild ride given the details.
Tourist Trap is about a nefarious establishment and a group of friends who find themselves stuck there after their car mysteriously breaks down. Slausen’s Lost Oasis is filled with mannequins and puppet-like figures that are nothing if not creepy and the owner — Mr. Slausen himself — is honestly just as off-putting and offbeat. Eventually, it becomes clear that not only is Slausen a serial slasher, but he is able to control inanimate objects with his mind. Will our unfortunate group of travelers be able to survive his house of horrors?
Tourist Trap is well worth any serious horror fan’s time because of the way it both borrows from other movies of the time and became an influence on many films to come. You’ll recognize nods in the stylistic directions of undisputed classics from the same era. For instance, the unnerving plastic mask Slausen wears will definitely remind you of Michael Myers from Halloween which was released the year prior. The telekinesis won’t be able to help but remind you of Carrie and similar films that came out around the same time. Slausen’s beautiful, but menacing home will certainly bring Texas Chainsaw Massacre to mind as well.
As a film, Tourist Trap is delightfully bizarre, if a little fragmented, helping it stand apart from the pack despite the similarities to other films. For instance, if you’re the sort that’s freaked out by dolls, mannequins, or puppets, you’ll definitely appreciate the way the mannequins are handled here. At times, there’s nothing amiss with them at all, but at others, they exhibit eerily distorted voices and creepy movements that are disturbingly unnatural (even for mannequins). They’re thoughtfully used in such a way that they lend freshness to the way the plot plays out.
To be fair, Tourist Trap is hardly flawless. For starters, it comes alongside its share of silliness. It also suffers from a few logic problems and plot holes. However, you also get the feeling the team behind this film is fully aware of this, so any loopholes come far from ruining the film. The great majority of the actors and performances here aren’t terribly memorable either (aside from Chuck Connors who really carries the film) — a fault that’s ultimately forgivable in light of Tourist Trap’s many merits.
Overall, Tourist Trap is an absolute gem that you really owe it to yourself to track down if you’ve never seen it. It will feel familiar to you in many ways. However, we can also honestly say we’ve never seen another film quite like it. It’s certainly a film that’s aged well and, perhaps, become even better and easier to appreciate with time.
