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The Tourist Trap

The Tourist Trap

List Price: $9.98
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Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Not as good as I was expecting
Review: About a year ago, I stumbled across a website that mentioned a cult classic horror film titled "Tourist Trap". I was surprised that I had never heard of it considering I am a big fan of the horror genre. I gave in recently and bought it on DVD after failing to find it for rent anywhere.

Let me first say that I had high expectations based on some reviews I'd read. However, after viewing "Tourist Trap" I can see why I have not heard of it before. It just doesn't work! The terrible acting, the ridiculous masks that Chuck Connors wore, and the lack of atmosphere. I wasn't at all scared.

I think the movie may have fallen into the category "it's so bad, it's good" scenario. Plus it was made in the late 70's when horror films were a big industry. But these elements don't prevent me from labelling it "one of the most pathetic films I have ever seen".

I recommend that people rent "Tourist Trap" before buying.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Cool movie, but where are the 40 Full Moon trailers?
Review: I'm happy to own this film on DVD (hence the 4 star rating), but I was extremely disappointed to find that the advertised 40 Full Moon trailers are nowhere to be found on this disc. There's only a handful of them. I would have bought the film anyway, but I was looking really forward to sitting back and watching lots of wonderfully cheesy trailers. There's a lesson to be learned here, fellow Amazon b-grade movie lovers...spend some time reading through as many reviews as possible to avoid disappointment in future :-)

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Low budget creepfest
Review: Ahhh, tourist traps! Those ramshackle buildings hugging the sides of state highways all across this great land of ours, places where you pay through the nose to see the world's biggest ball of used bubblegum, or sculptures of American presidents made out of navel lint. Who wouldn't want to shell out a few traveler's checks to see the only preserved Sasquatch in existence only to discover it looks like your rolled up entryway rug with a wig placed on top? No matter what your destination, whether a secluded little hideaway with your significant other or a march across the country with five kids in the backseat, the lure of the tourist trap is often too strong to resist. Especially for that one feebleminded passenger found on every lengthy trip, the one who messes with the radio stations and has to go to the bathroom every five minutes. If you anticipate problems in this area on your next vacation, pick up a copy of "The Tourist Trap" on DVD and show it to the family before backing the car out of the garage. I would be surprised if they still want to stop and see the largest collection of used cat litter after viewing this nightmarish movie.

To be fair, sometimes you cannot help but stumble over a tourist trap. What happens if you get a flat tire and the only place to phone for help turns out to be a museum full of odd mannequins? That is exactly what happens to the hapless travelers found in David Schmoeller's "The Tourist Trap." An unfortunate puncture at an inopportune time finds a gaggle of young people--the most noticeable being a very young and very curvy Tanya Roberts--rolling into Slausen's Museum, a boarded up tourist site presided over by the (who else) lumbering Mr. Slausen (Chuck Conners). Nothing seems amiss at first, as the owner of the tourist spot hands out drinks to the exhausted travelers and promises to help them fix their car. When several of the young people express interest in the mannequins, Slausen is only too happy to show them off. As he walks out the door with the only male member of the gang, he warns the ladies to wait for them to return. Moreover, he strongly advises the girls to stay inside since coyotes roam the area and he doesn't want anyone to get hurt. Predicatably, one of the girls almost immediately disobeys orders by heading over to a huge mansion behind the museum. Curiosity killed the cat, so to speak, and it might do the same to busty young ladies who don't keep their nose where it belongs.

When their inquisitive friend fails to return, Becky and Molly (Tanya Roberts and Jocelyn Jones, respectively) head over to the house to investigate. The house and museum sit in the middle of a heavily forested area, which looks mighty creepy late at night. Shrugging off the spooky surroundings, Becky enters the house in search of her friend despite Molly's whispered warnings. Molly reluctantly returns to the museum, thereby missing the unfolding horror in the seemingly abandoned mansion. It turns out that Slausen's crazy brother Dave lives there, a man who doesn't take kindly to strangers snooping around his mannequin-making factory. Dave Slausen has a penchant for wearing masks himself, as Becky soon discovers when the insane man captures her and ties her up in the basement (where Jerry, the aforementioned male member of the quartet, resides as well). Becky and Jerry soon discover that Slausen has telekinetic powers, which he uses to move objects and mannequins around at will, and they also notice he has a yearning to turn human beings into mannequins even if it means committing murder to do it. Things are not what they seem in this movie, with revelations occurring constantly against a backdrop of plot twists and turns. The conclusion alone makes picking up this DVD a necessity.

The performances, with the exception of Chuck Conners and Jocelyn Jones, are mostly forgettable. Jones as the goody-goody Molly and Conners as the omnipresent Slausen elevate "The Tourist Trap" above the run of the mill slasher/low budget horror flick. After seeing Jones shriek and scream through the last quarter of the movie, I wondered why she never attained the type of scream queen status accorded to the likes of Jamie Lee Curtis. She does a wonderful job here, neatly playing off of Conners's creepy turn as the enigmatic museum owner. Who knew Conners had it in him to play such a sick, offbeat role? Too bad he didn't follow this movie up with a few other equally deviant performances. As for Tanya Roberts, well, she does parade around through the woods in a pair of cut off shorts and a tube top, so I guess we cannot complain too much. She made this movie immediately before signing up for the last season of "Charlie's Angels," and the two projects couldn't be further apart in terms of subject matter.

I take exception with people who claim that the picture quality is great on this DVD. It isn't, not by a long shot, but for some reason this is one of the few times where a grainy hue helped give a movie great atmosphere. I'm not sure I would want to see this sleazy little gem with a crystal clear picture. Happily, the amazing score by Pino Donaggio sounds great, achieving as it does a spectacular mix of lazy whimsy and eerie sweep. The DVD itself sports an interview with director Schmoeller, a collection of schlock trailers, cast bios and filmographies, and a few other minor goodies. Note: don't watch the interview with the director before you watch the movie. It contains spoilers that will ruin the whole experience. If you like horror, be sure and check this little movie out as soon as possible.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: great old horror flick....
Review: This movie is just as scary today as it was the first time I seen it about 20 years ago....not your typical slasher flick....filled with all sorts of twisted stuff from start to finish...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Get Caught in the TRAP!
Review: THE TOURIST TRAP was mentioned by STEPHEN KING as one of his favorite movies. It was supposed to reinvent Chuck Connors as a Lon Chaney for the 1980s. It didn't do great at the box office, because ... well it was surrounded by other slasher flicks that were R-rated, and despite what it says on the box this only earned a PG. But it has endured to become a cult classic, largely due to the fact it was easily shown on television (don't have to cut much out!).

It's a creepy little story about a group of teens who get stranded on a lonely highway, and taken to a curious wax museum where they are picked off one by one in order of their sexual promiscuity. Sounds pretty typical for 80s horror, but this one has the killer having telekinetic powers so that objects fly, manequins scream, and mayhem breaks out. The climax is very different from its peer group! The last shot of the movie burns into your mind, and suddenly you realize ... TOURIST TRAP ain't a bad place to find some shivers! Kinda like CARRIE crossed with HALLOWEEN! Odd note is that Dino Pinaggio who scored CARRIE also worked on the music for this one.

This DVD version features a wide-screen transfer, and commentary by the director. And it's cheap! You get a lot of bang for the buck here. If you're a horror fan this is a must. If you don't like the gore in most horror movies this is a must! It's a creepy classic that should have everybody caught in its spell.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: CREEPY
Review: This 1979 slasher flick is not only one of the scariest movies of our time, but it's entertaining and thrilling and electrifying with complete terror. This movie is very scary and is about this weird old guy who dresses up like a doll and has living mannequins including his deceased wife, in which was killed because she was having an affair with his brother...tear...this movie is seriously crazy and freaky and is one of the top 20 most outstanding, horrifying films of our time.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Low budget..... but great movie !
Review: Even it is a low budget exploitation, "Tourist trap" is really fascinating in its own way. The director David Schmoeller creates a thrilling and perfect cat-and-mouse game where's no escape for the victims. Chuck Connors provides a great performance and Tanja Roberts is one of the hotest babes I've ever seen on horror screens. She's absolutely delicious in her sexy shorts! And of course don't miss how the lovely Jocelyn Jones slowly becomes insane among the infernal mannequins of Mr. Slausen's wax museum. "Tourist trap" is a great horror flick which I'm happy to have in my collection. So if you like good horror movies with the little nostalgic touch of the seventies, you should buy this one. You will not regret!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: under-appreciated gem!
Review: I've always been a horror fan,and I remembered seeing this creepy movie on HBO back in the early 80s.I never forgot this cool flick and was psyched when I saw it on DVD!Every bit as chilling today as it was back then.Robert A Burns,art director for TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE(remember the bone furniture?),does a similar job here.The print is fantastic,though full screen,and the sound is good.Running commentary by the director is included,and is interesting.A fine slice of late 70s terror.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Almost Perfect
Review: This movie has it times, it is scary in parts..maybe not scary but creepy. I though it started out good and kinda went downhill a little. but overall it is a good movie for the price.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: "That's my brother Davey's house. "
Review: What a crazy film. Bizzare to say the least. One of the first horror movies I was introduced to as a kid. Actualy Chuck Conners best character playing. The stroyline is the usaul stuff... kids having car trouble... at the mercy of the local landowner then it gets wacko. One by one falling victum to a mad man. You gotta love it. Great extras on the dvd including the trailor and previews of other campy stuff. " MY brother dont like me using my special powers... but why not? They make me feel gooooood!" - sorry one of my favorite lines.. " god help those who get caught in the " Tourist Trap ".


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