Tourist Trap

 For years I had searched for this movie, the only problem was that I didn't know it's name.  I remembered seeing it as kid while I was on vacation with my family.  I was 10 or 11 and I caught it late night while my parents were sleeping.  Years later I looked for it, but I had only vague memories of it and I couldn't remember who was in it.  This summer I was describing to a friend and she managed find the name, for that I thank you Jackie!  In a strange twist of fate I won a copy on Blu-Ray from Dread Central the very next week. 

The plot is a pretty standard, a group of friends gets stranded in the middle of nowhere and wind up in clutches of a killer.  What elevates this above other similar movies is it's atmosphere.  Robert Burns, who was the art director on "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre", handled both art direction and the majority of the special effects. He does an amazing job making the film look creepy and disturbing. 

Written and directed by David Schmoeller it was based on his student thesis film.  Schmoeller would later go on to write and direct "The Puppet Master" which spawned a whole franchise. 

Chuck Connors stars as Slausen the owner titular Tourist Trap

I don't want to spoil anymore of the plot, but it takes some interesting turns.  I guess the best way to describe the plot is a mixture of elements from "The Hills Have Eyes"and "Carrie".  This sounds odd, but it really works in the movie. 

Whatever he's selling, I'm not buying. 

Do yourself a favor this Halloween and check this forgotten gem out.