***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 & mannequins (Chuck Connors). “Tourist Trap” (1979) combines elements of several previous horror flicks, like “Psycho” (1960), the desert museum opening of “Gargoyles” (1972), “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” (1974), the telekinesis of “Carrie” (1976) and the creepy mannequins of several 70’s movies/shows, including Kolchak: The Night Stalker (“The Trevi Collection”). It was made by the creator of “Puppetmaster” (1989) and heavily influenced “House of Wax” (2005); it even had an impact on the imminent “Friday the 13th” flicks. If you like those movies you’ll like this one. It’s not as good as the better ones, and is overrated in some circles, but it’s solid for a late 70’s horror flick in the rural slasher mode. The highlights are Connor’s sympathetic portrayal, the rural locations, the sets/props and, especially, the female cast, featuring Robin Sherwood (Eileen), Tanya Roberts (Becky) and Jocelyn Jones (Molly). The film runs 1 hour, 30 minutes, and was shot in the Los Angeles area: Samma Ranch, Agua Dulce (near Vasquez Rocks) and Latigo Canyon, Malibu (the waterfall scene). GRADE: B

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, "Slauson's Lost Oasis." A new highway has rerouted all of his business away, save the occasional car that conveniently breaks down. After the opening murder of Woody (Keith McDermott) at an abandoned gas station on the new highway, Woody's friends Molly (Jocelyn Jones), Jerry (Jon Van Ness), Eileen (Robin Sherwood), and Becky (Tanya Roberts) conveniently break down in Jerry's hideous car at Slauson's oasis. Slauson loves the company, warning the group not to stray from the museum after dark, and definitely stay away from the big house on the hill. Victims being victims, they start wandering off one by one- stalked by a masked killer, and experiencing what appears to be paranormal activity around the museum and house. The old VHS copy of this film was a mainstay at video stores across the country. It was also MPAA rated (PG), a rating that stunned the filmmakers themselves, and probably a reason Teenage Me never bothered with it. Connors, past his "The Rifleman" prime, turns in a sincere and sympathetic performance as Slauson. He played stoic and tough in his best known role but his output after the show ended was spotty and disappointing. The small…

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