Tourist Trap (1979)
directed by David Schmoeller
Rated PG because they had not invented PG-13 yet, lol. Blood and violence in this one.
For fans of grimy 70s horror films. I’m sure smarter people than me can define it better, but I find that each decade really has its own flavor or vibe and the 70s produced a particular type of horror film that feels harsh, even now. This movie is not overly intense, but I think that it’s rough around the edges in a way that could be off-putting to some people. I personally love the low budget filth.
My rating: Car Trouble! You may think that is too specific of a classification, but you’d be dead wrong! There are tons of great films that follow an initial bout of car trouble, whether it be by chance or by unseen forces. House of 1000 Corpses is a great example and it seems Rob Zombie was heavily influenced by this film.
Some thoughts. There’s some familiar faces in this film, including the wonderful Tanya Roberts, who you may know as Donna’s mother in That 70s Show. Also, the owner of the tourist trap is the legendary Chuck Connors, one of the very few people to play in both the NBA and the MLB (and for the Cubbies, no less).
The movie essentially follows a group of friends who end up at a failed roadside attraction, or as the title suggests, a tourist trap. It is run by a bitter older man, who resents the interstate for ruining his livelihood. He offers to help with the car, but takes the group inside the tourist trap first, and that’s when things go wrong.
As you can see above, this is a mannequin slasher. I realize I have already suggested Dolls (1987). And yes, I realize Charles Band was involved in this film too, but the two films are totally different. One has small killer dolls that are possessed by spirits and the other has life-size killer mannequins that, while being made out of previously alive humans, are entirely animated by telekinesis and have no vengeful spirits trapped inside.
I really enjoy these low-budget, somewhat forgotten horror films of decades past. My wife and I will often gravitate toward a relatively unknown movie from the 70s or 80s rather than watch a new film and this one really was a delight. There is so much to like about practical effects and the ways in which films of the past feel so different than today. I do think I have a high tolerance for “lower quality” films, but this is one that I truly believe a lot of horror people will like and deserves your viewing. And if you drive a car, get AAA. Saving a few dollars ain’t worth getting made into a mannequin.