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Tourist
Trap
Directed by David Schmoeller
Released: 1979
Starring: Chuck Connors, Jocelyn Jones, Jon Van Ness, Robin Sherwood, and
Tanya Roberts
Running Time: 90 minutes
A group of teens on vacation get stranded in the middle of nowhere due to some mysterious car trouble. They are helped by Mr. Slausen (Chuck Connors), owner of Slausin's Lost Oasis (a museum filled with animated mannequins). As their friends begin to disappear one by one, the remaining teens must avoid the attacks of a strange man in a mannequin-like mask in order to escape a fate worse than death.
Tourist Trap is a truly bizarre film. This late night TV staple proves that mannequins are still creepy and mannequins that whisper are very unsettling. David Schmoeller, who would go on to
create the Puppet Master series, has created one weird late '70s quasi-slasher. By giving telekinetic powers to a maniac who turns people into mannequins, Schmoeller has managed to make his film into something of an odd duck. Oddly enough, this lurid flick was rated PG in its day.
Unfortunately, the whole psychic power plot doesn't always gel. For instance, one awkward scene is when the first victim is attacked by the contents of the cupboard. Another unfortunate aspect of the film are the male leads. The guys are irritating at best and I couldn't wait for them to get taken out.
The female characters, on the other hand, are very good. Jocelyn Jones, who plays Molly (the good girl), is perfect for the role and is easy to cheer for. Even Tanya Roberts (future Charlie's Angel) fits in well in the cast. Chuck Connors is awesome as the clearly disturbed, Mr. Slausen. Some viewers will be put off by Chuck's over-the-top performance but he couldn't be more at home in this twisted movie.
If you have a taste for strangeness and demented horror movies, then seek out
Tourist Trap. I can guarantee you won't find a weirder blending of horror devices. The director took some risks and managed to pull off a film that sticks in the brain and is even rewarding with repeat viewings. The killer's sadistic methods alone, are worth checking out.
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