Tourist Trap
Tourist Trap

Movie spotlight

Tourist Trap

1979
Movie
89 min
English

After their car breaks down, a group of young travelers find themselves stranded at a roadside museum run by the enigmatic Mr. Slausen and populated by his collection of life-like wax mannequins.

Insights

IMDb6.1/10
Google Users75%
Director: David SchmoellerGenres: Horror, Mystery, Thriller

Plot Summary

A group of young friends gets stranded when their car breaks down near a secluded roadside tourist trap. Seeking help, they wander into a bizarre museum filled with eerie mannequins and unsettling wax figures. They soon discover that the proprietor, Mr. Slausen, has sinister intentions and uses his telekinetic abilities to lure and torment his victims, picking them off one by one in increasingly disturbing ways.

Critical Reception

Tourist Trap is a cult classic horror film that, while not a mainstream critical darling upon its release, has gained a devoted following over the years for its unique blend of unsettling atmosphere, surreal imagery, and genuinely creepy premise. It's often praised for its innovative use of mannequins as a source of terror and its effective suspense building, though some critics point to its somewhat uneven pacing and dated special effects.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its unique and disturbing premise centered around creepy mannequins.

  • Effective in building suspense and creating an unsettling atmosphere.

  • Considered a cult favorite for its surreal horror elements.

Google audience: Audiences generally appreciate the film's originality and its ability to generate a sense of dread, often highlighting the unsettling nature of the wax figures and mannequins as a key strength. Some viewers find the plot a bit convoluted, but the overall creepy vibe and memorable villain are frequently cited as reasons for enjoyment.

Fun Fact

The distinctive, unsettling sounds and voices heard throughout the film, often emanating from the mannequins, were created by manipulating recordings of actual human voices and other sounds through various electronic effects and speed changes.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
tmdb76622195

tmdb76622195

A (PG)-rated slasher film that has been on my radar for decades, "Tourist Trap" is both creepy and ridiculous. Mr. Slauson (Chuck Connors) is a kindly old gentleman living at his all-but-abandoned wax museum and tourist attraction, "Slau...

Wuchak

Wuchak

***Chuck Connors & creepy mannequins in the sticks of Southern Cal*** Three girls & two guys break down in the hills north of Los Angeles and are helped by the genial owner of a defunct desert museum with a penchant for spooky masks & m...