Tourist Trap

A couple of weeks back, I revisited a trippy little horror film from my youth, 1979's Tourist Trap. I remember it giving me the creeps when I was younger. Does it still have that effect on me?

Luckily yes! A group of twentysomethings, including future Beastmaster babe Tanya Roberts, have car problems while on a road trip. While looking for help, they decide to check out a roadside attraction that's main feature is creepy mannequins acting out events like the Civil War. The yokel who owns the place, The Rifleman's Chuck Connors, seems friendly at first, but the kids soon realize that he wants to make them a part of the show.

When done right, mannequins can be quite creepy, and I think that's what makes this film so effective. Stephen King has called this one of his favorite horror films, and it's easy to see why.

The cast is a cookie cutter ensemble for the most part. The young group is mostly bland and generic. Connors performance is all over the place. Sometimes it seems he is having a hoot playing this backwoods redneck. But there are some scenes where it feels like he is embarrassed to be in a role that was probably just a paycheck for him. I have read however that he was hoping that this movie would be a comeback for him and make him a horror icon.

For the most part, Tourist Trap is an eerie blast.

It's available on dvd and blu ray.