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| Tourist Trap (1979) 90 min |
| Tourist Trap was out of the gate before most of the other Halloween inspired slashers oversaturated theaters in the wake of Friday the 13th. This worked to benefit the film, as it's not nearly as formulaic as other movies that followed througout the 80s. Not to say that this is better or worse than other slashers of the era, it's just a little different. |
| Tourist Trap is director David Schmoeller first real feature. He had a short under his belt from his college days, The Spider Will Kill You. I've never seen This Spider, but Schmoeller explains on the commentary track that Tourist Trap evolved as a more in depth feature length version of This Spider. Schmoeller is probably best known to horror fans for his work with Charles Band back before he was intent on producing the cheapest and most unwatchable material ever! His most popular film is the cornerstone of all things that came later from Full Moon Entertainment (both good and bad), Puppter Master. He also made one of the last solid efforts from the studio, Netherworld. Both films are worth seeking out and expand on Schmoeller's ability to make a wonderfully creepy indoor environment. |
| Let's go back before all this though. There were certainly a fair share of slasher films before this one, but there was no solid formula to make them by. Tourist Trap has enough supernatutal and haunted house elements that at times it doesn't even feel like a slasher. It was marketed like a slasher though. A small cast of young unknowns, a gigantic veteran to add whatever marquee value he could, and creepy looking poster (with a disappointingly lame tag line). |
| The movie opens with a kid rolling a tire to a garage. Apparently he brought a spare tire on the trip, but didn't put air in it. It's probably best not to dwell on the lapse in logic on this one. Anyway, he gets to the garage and looks around for the attendant. Eventually he stumbles on to a room where a bunch of mannequins spring to life and some tools fly off of the wall at him. This scene may sound a little mundane in print, but it surely one of the strongest and most effective sequences in Schmoeller's career. Normally scenes in low budget horror films that take place during broad daylight fall flat (see Camp Blood for a plethora of examples), but this one is expertly crafted. It's unforgettable and creepy and sets that standard very high for the rest of the film. |
| It's debatable as to whether or not the film maintains the tone set by the opening. This is a difficult act to follow, and Tourist Trap does it's best not to faulter along the way. To make a long story short, the rest of the kids get together and go looking for their friend. They come across a creepy looking wax museum that's been falling into ruin since a new highway diverted most tourists in another direction. Not seeing anyone around the three girls naturally decide to go skinny dipping. While frolicking in the water they meet the towering reclusinve owner of the resort, Mr. Slausen. He tries to help the group out and explains a little bit about himself and the crumbling resort in the process. |
| Once again, the film jumps to life by setting the narrative indoors where Schmoeller has control over all the variables. He has a knack for filming the creepiest looking wax figures this side of Professor Henry Jarrod! We see Mr. Slausen has a wax replica of his deceased, and a more mysterious side as he mentions that he keeps 'Davey' in the house. When questioned further on the matter he covers by saying he was talking about a figure of Davey Crockett, since he can't seem to coexist in the same room as the wax figure of General Custer. |
| As could be expected, some of our character's let thier curiosity get the best of them and go off to explore the property while Mr. Slausen goes out to take a look at the kids' car. After some pretty atmospheric scenes involving the wax figures and some poltergeist like events all hell breaks loose. There's some question as to who's actually behind it all, so I won't go into that here. Suffice it to say that the movie loses a little momentum during the outdoor stalking/chasing sequences, but never enough to sink the film. Schmoeller even throws in a little twist at the end that will probably elicit chills from some and groans from other. I found myself somewhere in between, I knew it was corny, but the image itself was still pretty effective. |
| The cast all put in appropriate performances. Chuck Connors is probably best known as Lucas McCain, The Rifelman from the 50s TV show. I also enjoyed Connors turn as Mr. Warren in Summer Camp Nightmare. In Tourist Trap, Connors reminds me a little of Charles Napier in Supervixens. Connors is a definite presence on film and Schmoeller shares some interesting experiences with him on the commentary track. Apparently Connors has ambitions of becoming the Boris Karloff of the 1980s at the time. The only other notable in the cast would be Tanya Roberts who after a brief tenure as one of Charlie's Angels went on to have major roles in Beastmaster and A View to a Kill. Recently she's been a recurring on That '70s Show. |
| The DVD release under Charles Band's Cult Video label is a mixed bag. First and foremost, the film looks pretty good with and anamorphic 1.85:1 transfer. This isn't a pristine remaster like we've seen from companies like Anchor Bay or Blue Underground, but I would say it's more than acceptable here. Next up is a commentary track from Schmoeller. It does have some good information, but Schmoeller could use a companion or a moderator. His pacing is slow and his tone is very unexciting; the somewhat long stretches of silence had me wanting to flip the commentary track off and just enjoy the movie again. It's not a total bust though, he does have some interesting tidbits about Connors, This Spider Will Kill You, and a suprisingly lack of nudity for a movie with its share of attractive young actresses who even go skinny dipping! Anyway, the track is worth a listen, but it feels like there is lost potential. Hopefully Schmoeller will have Paul Le Mat or someone with him if he ever does a Puppet Master track! |
| Rounding out the release is some scant bio information, although Schmoeller does give a video interview. There's also a gallery of trailers. The box claims over 40 Full Moon trailers, but there are less than 10 to be found. At first I was a little pissed about this, but after I watched a few I thought it was merciful. These trailers are crap. I don't know if there's anyway I can stress it enough with this keyboard that there are some of the shittiest trailers I've ever seen! Even the presence of Elizabeth Kaitan and Charlie Spradling couldn't aerate the stink from these turds. Another head scratcher about the release is the R rating on the box. As far as I know Tourist Trap has never been R rated, and I don't think this release had any additional scenes. I don't know what kind of tomfoolery this is, but if I figure it out I'll print it here. |
| I guess the real bottom line here is Tourist Trap is a good movie, and the transfer is miles ahead of any VHS releases. I think most 80s horror fans will enjoy themselves and the DVD retails for under $10 everywhere! |
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| I give this one 3 &1/2 cracker loving mannequins out of 5! |
| Review by Joe Canistro 08.14.2005 |