Tourist Trap

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Tourist Trap
Directed by David Schmoeller
Written by David Schmoeller
J. Larry Carroll
Starring Chuck Connors
Tanya Roberts
Jocelyn Jones
Jon Van Ness
Robin Sherwood
Dawn Jeffory
Distributed by Compass International Pictures
Release date(s) 16 March 1979 (USA)
Running time 90 min.
Language English
IMDb profile


Tourist Trap is a 1979 horror film directed by David Schmoeller, revolving around a group of friends who wind up stranded at Mr. Slausen's "museum," where the mannequins are very lifelike. Schmoeller co-wrote the script with J. Larry Carroll.

Contents

[edit] Cast

[edit] Plot

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

When their friend goes missing, four people go in search of him. During their search they come upon Slausen's Lost Oasis, a mannequin dressed museum. They soon meet the owner of the museum, Mr. Slausen, who agrees to help with their car trouble. However, some of the girls do not trust Mr. Slausen and decide to look for a working phone inside the house. What they do not know is that hidden inside the home is Mr. Slausen's younger brother who wears a mask. What they find is there is something even more horrifying behind the mask.

Although billed as being a horror movie, it has achieved a cult following for being quite hilarious in many respects. Many people were first introduced to this film while watching it as kids as a weekend afternoon movie on television in the early to mid 1980s.

A specific scene describing the offbeat humor exhibited in the film involves Chuck Connors having soup with an elderly mannequin:

Chuck: How's your soup?

Mannequin: The soup is very good.

Chuck: Would you like some crackers with your soup?

Mannequin: I'd like some more crackers, please?

Chuck: That's what I said!

Mannequin: Yes, the soup is very good.

Chuck: Are the crackers good?

Chuck: I SAID ARE THE CRACKERS GOOD?!!?

{Mannequins head falls off}

Chuck: I've gotta fix that....

ALso, of note is the interesting use of sound and music in the film. Specifically noteworthy are some of the sound effects utilized toward the end of certain scenes (such as the one described above).

[edit] Trivia

  • The plaster used in the death scene was actually dough.
  • The script originally called for nudity, but Schmoeller said he was too embarrassed to bring it up during casting. When they got to the lake scene, he finally asked them if they'd be willing. The collective answer was no.
  • Schmoeller's real-life parents played the Connors' "parents" in the movie.
  • Schmoeller's then-wife is the mannequin who gives the female lead something to drink.

[edit] External link