Tourist Trap

Tourist Trap

Year: 1979

Runtime: 90 min

Language: English

Director: David Schmoeller

Horror

A group of teenagers searching for a missing friend find themselves stranded and taken in by the seemingly helpful Mr. Slausen. He leads them to his brother’s doll museum, but their trip takes a sinister turn when they are pursued by a psychopathic killer. This killer possesses supernatural abilities, bringing the museum’s life-size mannequins to terrifying life and turning their search into a desperate fight for survival.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Tourist Trap yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – Tourist Trap (1979)

Trace every key event in Tourist Trap (1979) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Eileen and Woody's Adventure Begins

Eileen and her boyfriend Woody embark on an exciting journey through the desert. This fun-filled trip soon takes a turn as they face vehicular issues.

Desert
2

Flat Tire Dilemma

Their adventure is abruptly interrupted when they suffer a flat tire. Woody decides to venture out alone in search of a gas station, leaving Eileen behind.

Desert
3

Arrival of Friends

Meanwhile, Eileen's friends—Becky, Jerry, and Molly—arrive to check on her. They find Eileen waiting, concerned about Woody's absence after he went to find help.

Desert
4

Woody Discovers the Gas Station

Woody stumbles upon an abandoned gas station, which seems deserted at first. However, his exploration soon takes a sinister turn when he enters a back room and becomes trapped.

Gas Station
5

Atrocities Unleashed

As Woody finds himself in a terrifying situation, mannequins come to life and chaos erupts. The horror culminates in his brutal demise as he is pierced by a metal pipe.

Gas Station
6

Exploring Slausen's Lost Oasis

Eileen's friends arrive at the ghost town known as Slausen's Lost Oasis. In hopes of locating Woody, they find themselves stranded when their vehicle mysteriously breaks down.

Slausen's Lost Oasis
7

Skinny Dipping Surprise

While Jerry tries to fix the jeep, the women decide to take a break and enjoy skinny dipping in a nearby oasis. This recreational moment is interrupted by the arrival of Mr. Slausen.

Oasis
8

Slausen's Invitation

Mr. Slausen offers to help Jerry with the jeep and invites the group to his home for tools. The allure of his animated wax figures captivates the group, masking the impending danger.

Slausen's Home
9

Eileen's Horrifying Encounter

Curious about a neighboring house, Eileen explores alone and is soon horrified as she discovers the unsettling presence of mannequins. Her exploration culminates in a shocking confrontation with a masked figure.

Adjacent House
10

The Search for Eileen

As the group grows concerned about Eileen's absence, Slausen heads to find her after falsely claiming that Jerry has left. His return reveals a dark twist: Eileen has become part of the mannequin collection.

Slausen's Home
11

Becky's Discovery

In a desperate search, Becky enters the nearby house and comes across a mannequin resembling Eileen. However, her curiosity leads to an ambush by the masked killer and other mannequins.

Nearby House
12

Captivity in the Basement

Becky regains consciousness to find herself bound in a basement alongside Jerry. They learn the dreadful truth about Slausen’s brother, who is the actual killer stalking them.

Basement
13

Molly's Encounter with Slausen

Molly is relentlessly pursued by the masked killer and encounters Slausen again. He hands her a gun for protection, only for her to discover it’s loaded with blanks, heightening the terror.

Slausen's Lost Oasis
14

Final Confrontation

As Molly takes desperate measures to escape, she finds a hatchet and strikes Slausen. As he dies, the influence of his dark powers fades, freezing the mannequins in place.

Slausen's Home
15

Molly's Chaotic Escape

As dawn breaks, Molly drives away with the jeep, accompanied by lifeless mannequins that once resembled her friends. The chilling atmosphere of Slausen's Lost Oasis lingers ominously.

Slausen's Lost Oasis

Last Updated: November 03, 2024 at 11:37

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Movies like Tourist Trap about being hunted in a surreal trap

Characters hunted within a confined, surreal location by an unstoppable force.If you liked the claustrophobic horror of Tourist Trap, this list features similar movies where characters are hunted within a bizarre, isolated location. These films share a high-intensity, bleak tone and a steady pace, focusing on survival against a supernatural or psychopathic force in a twisted world.

claustrophobicsurrealdesperateparanoidoppressivefrenetictrapped

Narrative Summary

These stories typically begin with characters entering an unusual, isolated location that quickly becomes a prison. A malevolent force, often with control over the environment, begins a methodical hunt. The narrative structure involves the systematic isolation and elimination of characters, building tension towards a desperate and often futile final confrontation.

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They are grouped by their shared core premise of a confined, surreal setting and a relentless pursuer. This creates a specific vibe of claustrophobic panic and surreal dread, where the familiar rules of reality are suspended, leading to a consistently tense and oppressive viewing experience.

Horror movies with killer dolls and mannequins like Tourist Trap

Where everyday inanimate objects turn malevolent and spring to life.Fans of Tourist Trap will enjoy these similar horror movies where inanimate objects like dolls, mannequins, or statues come to life with murderous intent. These films often share a dark tone, straightforward plots, and a heavy emotional weight, delivering surreal scares and a pervasive sense of unease.

surrealuncannyparanoidoppressivebizarredesperatefrenetic

Narrative Summary

The narrative often centers on characters discovering that a collection of objects is alive and hostile. The threat escalates as the objects begin to move and attack, often controlled by a central antagonist. The journey involves realizing the true nature of the threat and a fight for survival against an enemy that can be anywhere, blurring the line between reality and nightmare.

Why These Movies?

They are united by their unique antagonist: animated objects. This specific trope generates a distinct type of fear based on the uncanny and the violation of safety in the mundane. The shared mood is one of surreal paranoia and a very particular brand of psychological terror.

Unlock the Full Story of Tourist Trap

Don't stop at just watching — explore Tourist Trap in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Tourist Trap is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Tourist Trap Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Tourist Trap, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Tourist Trap Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Tourist Trap

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Tourist Trap. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Tourist Trap

Tourist Trap Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Tourist Trap that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Tourist Trap Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Tourist Trap

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Tourist Trap: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

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