Horror puppet

Imagine if Leatherface had telekinetic powers and enjoyed making mannequins of his victims. That's pretty much Tourist Trap! The teenagers are pretty likeable and well-acted and the film builds some nice tension and intrigue as you try to puzzle out how the killings are taking place and how the mannequins are moving, and just what the deal with the affable but eccentric Mr Slausen is. Chuck Connors, by the way, is great in this. He has that old reassuring charm, but an imposing presence that has you second-guessing his motivations.

It builds tension and is full of nightmarish visuals and scenarios. Sometimes it feels a bit too formulaic and like it's going through the slasher motions, but then it will go and capture your attention with some particularly inventive death or creepy visual.

Essential viewing for fans of slashers, and for everyone else: it's probably still worth checking out as it brings something new to the table of this well-worn sub-genre.