Horror films came and went in waves at one time. A few would be hits and they would soon fade out of favor with viewing audiences. That all changed in 1978 with the release of HALLOWEEN. It became apparent to studios that there was a market for horror films and soon more were coming out. On the heels of HALLOWEEN a small independent movie was released that didn’t do big figures but has become a cult favorite among horror films. And now Full Moon is releasing TOURIST TRAP with the attention it deserves.
Eileen (Robin Sherwood) and Woody (Keith McDermott) are traveling the backroads when they have a flat tire. Woody head out to find a gas station in hopes of a quick repair. The first one he reaches seems deserted but when he looks around he finds a room filled with mannequins. Some supernatural power brings them to life and he is impaled by a pipe.
Meanwhile there friends Molly (Jocelyn Jones), Jerry (Jon Van Ness), and Becky (Tanya Roberts) show up at the car since they were driving separately. They pick up Eileen and head out to find Woody. They find it and realize it’s also a tourist trap of sorts. Their care mysteriously breaks down and while Jerry tries to fix it the girls go off skinny dipping. While swimming the owner of the tourist trap Mr. Slausen (Chuck Connors) shows up, shotgun in hand. The girls apologize for trespassing and he invites them up to the tourist trap.
Mr. Slausen tells Jerry he’ll help him with his car and that the girls can wait inside his the tourist trap. Inside they find a number of odd assorted items including animated figures. Slausen tells the girls to make sure they don’t go up to the house but it isn’t long after he leaves with Jerry that Eileen heads there to find a phone. What she finds instead is the strange supernatural source attacking her as it did Woody and she’s soon done for.
Slausen returns to his stand and tells the girls that Jerry was able to get the truck running and drove into town. They tell him that Eileen went to the house to find a phone and he goes off to find her. What he discovers is Eileen now transformed into a mannequin. He tells the girls he’ll continue looking for her and heads out. Not wanting to wait the girls separate and go searching themselves. It isn’t long before Becky is attacked by a masked killer and captured. Will she escape? Will Molly? And what about Jerry? And just who is the masked figure with telekinetic powers? Does Slausen know him?
Made on a shoestring budget the film makes the most of its money putting on several truly frightening sequences and telling a great story at the same time. We’ve all seen places like this location along the highway, most of them having seen better days before interstates came around. It makes a fantastic place for a fright film to take place. Director David Schmoeller, who went on to direct several more films for Charles Band’s different companies (Band served as one of the producers on this film), shows he can handle the material well.
The film was late in the career of Connors but he plays the role of Slausen with ease and makes a formidable figure of fright here. For Tanya Roberts this was one of the first films she actually had a speaking role in. Of the other actors only Van Ness became a recognizable face and continued working for year.
Released in the past what makes this new edition so collectible? Well first off you get the uncut complete version of the film. Secondly they’ve packaged the disc in a VHS style collectible box for those who remember seeing the film the first time in those mom and pop video stores. The movie has been digitally remastered for the best look the film has ever had on disc. Not only is there a commentary track with director Schmoeller there is an interview with him. There are rare trailers included. And last but not least the box also contains a blister packed retro style action figure of Mr. Slausen. Yes Mr. Slausen can sit with you and watch the movie!
My first viewing of this film knocked me off my feet. Like
most people I find mannequins to be kind of creepy looking. This movie takes
that to a whole new level. It’s a great story, effectively frightening and is
sure to become a movie that will haunt your dreams at night. If you’ve never
seen it before you need to check it out. And this version will be the best that
you can find and worth the money.
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