Tourist Trap Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Tourist Trap" from Full Moon Features and MVD Visual offers a mixed visual experience defined by its AVC encoded 1080p transfer in a widescreen 1.78:1 aspect ratio. Promoted as uncut and digitally remastered, this release includes footage absent from previous editions, although there’s a lack of transparency about the source material for this transfer. Comparing various screenshots reveals inconsistencies in brightness and color temperature, with some shots displaying more noticeable fading, particularly during darker interior scenes where grain looks chunky, and black levels are often crushed. Notably, the interstitial footage integrated into this version appears quite ragged, hinting at possible SD sources.

Despite these issues, the mastering itself shows potential with sufficient resolution to capture detail effectively, especially in scenes featuring natural environments and cluttered interiors. The print is generally well-preserved, with minimal damage until the final reel, which exhibits some dust specks. Color elevation stands out positively, adding vibrancy to flesh tones and primary colors, with reds being particularly striking. Contrast levels push towards clipping but remain under control, enhancing the visual pop without significant issues. The shadows and black levels contribute to the film's atmospheric horror, maintaining density that aids in hiding the killer in darker corners. However, the compression artifacts due to grain, especially in complex scenes, detract from the overall clarity and detail retention. This release showcases both the merits and drawbacks of its transfer, marking an improvement over previous editions while leaving room for further enhancement.

The audio presentation of the Blu-Ray release of "Tourist Trap" provides Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 Mono tracks. Despite the expectations surrounding modern Blu-ray releases, it's disappointing that no lossless audio tracks are included. Although both tracks handle dialogue competently, they do not offer any significant enhancements over each other. The surround track lacks substantial immersion, failing to capitalize on the potential benefits of a multi-channel setup.

The soundtrack, composed by Pino Dinaggio, and the sound effects fall short of their potential impact due to the limitations of these compressed audio formats. The 5.1 track delivers slight improvements, such as adding a touch of bass to scenes involving physical impacts, but overall, the differences between it and the mono track are minimal. Despite these shortcomings, the audio quality is crisp, especially in the high treble range of the score – violins in particular stand out without any noticeable distortion.

While the audio functions adequately within the confines of lossy compression, it does not offer the dynamic range and immersion that enthusiasts might desire from a Blu-ray release. Future editions would benefit from including a lossless audio option to better render the moody and intricate elements of the soundtrack and provide a more substantial auditory experience.

The Blu-ray extras for "Tourist Trap" offer a comprehensive and engaging array of content, meticulously crafted to enhance the viewing experience for fans and collectors alike. Packaged in a distinctive retro VHS box, this release includes an exclusive Mr. Slausen action figure alongside the disc. The supplements feature a wealth of material led by an insightful audio commentary from director David Schmoeller. The standout is "Exit Through the Chop Shop: The Making of Tourist Trap," a 24-minute behind-the-scenes documentary that provides an in-depth look at the film's production, featuring interviews with Schmoeller interspersed with film clips. Additionally, a still gallery and trailers round out the offerings, providing further context and nostalgia for this cult classic.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary by Director David Schmoeller: Insightful discussion covering production details and creative choices.
• Exit Through the Chop Shop: The Making of Tourist Trap: An extensive featurette exploring the film's production.
• Still Gallery: A collection of stills from the film.
• Trailers: Includes the original "Tourist Trap" trailer and others from Full Moon Features.

“Tourist Trap” is a unique gem in the horror genre, standing out for its creative take on the slasher formula. The film revolves around Mr. Slausen (played by Chuck Connors), a seemingly benevolent loner who lives in seclusion and harbors dark secrets. Connors’ portrayal of Slausen adds depth to the character, making him more than just a conventional antagonist. Utilizing telekinesis, Slausen animates mannequins to terrifying effect, injecting originality into scenes that could otherwise fall into slasher clichés. His complex personality oscillates between sinister and protective, contributing to a chilling narrative arc that culminates in a surprising twist.

Despite its relatively low budget and somewhat slow pacing at times, “Tourist Trap” excels through its distinctive execution and atmospheric setting. The remote locale, filled with dark basements and eerie mannequins, creates an unsettling ambiance that bolsters the horror. Key sequences—particularly the clever and engaging opening—stand out, making an indelible impact on viewers. While the film’s plot follows some typical horror tropes, its inventive moments and Schmoeller's adept direction provide a fresh perspective. Schmoeller, freshly graduated from film school at the time, skillfully twists genre expectations, particularly with its ending, which defies conventional norms even by today's standards.

The supporting characters in “Tourist Trap” tend to fall into stock archetypes—the overly trusting teens and the stereotypical ‘slutty’ girl—but their presence serves the narrative purpose of elevating Slausen's menace. While these characters might not offer much in terms of depth, their interactions with Slausen underscore the film’s exploration of twisted morality and changing societal norms. Overall, “Tourist Trap” may appear plodding at times, but its climactic revelations and Connors’ legitimately unnerving performance create an enduring horror experience that withstands scrutiny and merits its place as a cult classic.

The Blu-ray release of David Schmoeller's "Tourist Trap" brings renewed attention to a classic horror film that combines eerie atmosphere with unexpected creative elements. This 1979 film, well-known among genre enthusiasts, benefits from the eerie charm of its isolated settings and the performance of Chuck Connors as the telekinetic antagonist. Despite some shortcomings in plot development, Jones, alongside future Charlie's Angels star Tanya Roberts, provides performances that remain key talking points in the horror community.

From a technical standpoint, the Blu-ray offers an inconsistent video quality that doesn't fully capture the potential clarity of the film, though it successfully restores previously missing footage. The audio is limited to lossy tracks which might disappoint audiophiles seeking high-fidelity sound. However, the supplementary content enriches the overall package significantly. Director David Schmoeller's commentary is packed with behind-the-scenes insights that delve into both the creative process and technical challenges faced during production. The inclusion of a making-of featurette is particularly valued by aficionados looking to understand more about the film's peculiar charm and legacy.

As ironically low rent as "Tourist Trap" is (i.e., given how spendy a lot of actual tourist traps can be), the film has some fascinating meta aspects that Schmoeller details in the supplements included on this disc. Those include the fact that two guys with the rather redolent cinematic surnames of Wyler and von Sternberg are among the technical crew, and that star Jocelyn Jones is the daughter of famed character actor Henry Jones. As Schmoeller also gets into, the film provided launching pads for a number of performers, including future Charlie's Angels Tanya Roberts. The story here is both rote and too undeveloped to ever fully register, but it's kind of fun to see The Rifleman in this kind of role. While this release restores the weirdly missing footage from the first Blu-ray, video quality is rather variant and never really at optimal levels. Only lossy audio options are included, but both the commentary and making-of featurette are really interesting, for those who are considering a purchase.