101 Films has released a Black Label Special Edition of the horror movie Tourist Trap, and here is a detailed review of this release by Steve Wells.
Out for an evening drive, a group of unsuspecting youths stumble upon “Slausen’s Lost Oasis,” an eerie, long-abandoned wax museum hidden deep in the countryside. What begins as an innocent detour soon turns into a nightmarish trap, as they discover the sinister secrets lurking within its crumbling walls. Presiding over this grotesque sideshow is the enigmatic Mr. Slausen, a seemingly harmless caretaker harboring a terrifying obsession. As the night unfolds, the travellers are plunged into macabre and sordid chambers of horror where wax figures come to life, and escape is nothing more than an illusion.
Tourist Trap is a very unoriginal film. It takes a lot of ideas from the likes of House Of Wax, Carrie, Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Psycho (even lifting dialogue from the latter word for word), but the result is a very watchable chiller. The cast are all excellent, giving their best in what is a very low-budget production, but it’s Jocelyn Jones who steals the film. As the damsel in distress, she acts everyone else is off the screen.
Released in 1979, it was a relatively early entry into the ‘teenagers meet homicidal maniac’ genre. The fact that it was only rated PG in the US probably doesn’t do it any favours in appealing to horror fans, who may have wanted something more daring to watch. Okay, it’s not a gore-fest, but I’m sure it would traumatise some kids who may have had this as a gateway to later, more violent horrors. As it stands, this release is rated 15 in the UK and is very effective without needing excessive violence or nudity.
The film has had an odd release history here in the UK. Previously released by 88 Films on DVD and Blu-Ray, the former had the full uncut version, whereas the Blu-Ray had several minutes of footage missing from it. This version from 101 Films boasts that it is the full uncut version, which is the same version as the 88 Films DVD, with the missing footage reintegrated with Standard Definition footage. The extra scenes don’t really add very much, but it’s nice to have anyway.
The quality of the transfer is something that cannot be ignored. Sourced from what seems to be a 35mm print, it’s got a very ‘grindhouse’ vibe. Lots of grain, a few scenes with blemishes and dirt, but there are two very problematic issues with the picture quality.
Firstly, there is a faded spot in the centre of the entire print. It looks a bit like a lens flare at first, but it’s there through the whole film, and when you see it you can’t help noticing it. Also, in the final 20 minutes of the film, there is a weird motion, like a frame is missing from every second, even through the closing credits. This has been an issue with previous releases, too, but surely there are now tools to fix the issue.
The sound quality is passable. It’s never going to sound dynamic, but there is a low, constant hum through the duration, which loses a few points in my final rating.
The icing on the cake for this release is the Special Features, which make the poor quality of the film’s transfer more forgivable.
Staring off with an interview with executive producer Charles Band, who talks about the film’s origins, how some of the effects were done so cheaply (objects flying out of a cupboard were achieved by rotating the entire set by 90 degrees!), and how he founded Empire International Pictures.
Jocelyn Jones tells some great anecdotes about making the film in a 19-minute interview. Considering how long ago the film was made, she remembers loads about it. It’s an absolute treat for fans.
Next up is executive producer Charles Band, talking about the origins of the story, its production, and Ted Nicolaou, the film’s editor. Ted discusses the obvious similarities to Texas Chainsaw Massacre, including the lack of on-screen violence and mentions that Stephen King is a big fan of the film.
Film critic Chris Alexander gives a great talk about Charles Band, his history, impressive filmography and legacy. He mentions the first time he saw Tourist Trap, and how he has a special place for it, the wonderful film score by Pino Donaggio, better known for scoring ‘Carrie’. He is calm, but enthusiastic and very knowledgeable about the film. I wish he’d done a commentary for this, but as it stands, we get 17 minutes of him cramming loads of information during that short running time.
Two features are carried over from the previous release by 88 Films. First up is the commentary track by director Davis Schmoeller. Along with a 7-minute interview with him. Both are good, but a lot of ground is covered in other features in less time.
So summing it all up, Tourist Trap is a very entertaining, low-budget horror, sadly marred by an inferior transfer. The Special Features redeem it, however, and as long as you know what you’re getting upfront, it’s highly recommended. As usual, this 101 Films Black Label release comes with a slipbox and limited edition booklet.
FILM – 9 PICTURE – 4 AUDIO – 5 EXTRAS – 8
Review by Steve Wells
