Tourist Trap (1979) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A stranded traveling group is consumed by Slausen's murderous museum and its transforming mannequin horrors.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A Breakdown At Lost Oasis

The travelers become stranded after Woody leaves to find help and is killed at a deserted gas station. The group then encounters Slausen and his isolated tourist attraction.

Key Events

• Flat Tire Separates Woody — A flat tire forces Woody to leave Eileen and search for a gas station. Characters: Eileen, Woody Location: Secluded rural road
• Woody Enters Deserted Station — Woody enters the station's back room while searching for help. Characters: Woody Location: Deserted gas station
• The Gas Station Attack — Flying objects and cackling mannequins attack Woody before a metal pipe impales him. Characters: Woody, Mannequin Location: Gas station back room
• Friends Reach Lost Oasis — The group reaches the tourist trap after passing the stranded vehicle. Characters: Molly, Jerry, Becky, Eileen Location: Slausen's Lost Oasis
• Vehicle Breaks Down — The group's vehicle mysteriously breaks down, leaving them at the tourist trap. Characters: Molly, Jerry, Becky Location: Lost Oasis grounds

Wax Figures In The Dark

Slausen offers assistance while revealing his museum of animated waxwork figures. Eileen leaves to find a phone and enters the nearby house alone.

Key Events

• Slausen Confronts Visitors — Slausen appears with a shotgun and confronts the trespassing visitors. Characters: Mr. Slausen / Davey Slausen, Molly, Jerry, Becky Location: Lost Oasis grounds
• Slausen Offers Assistance — Slausen offers to help Jerry but insists that the group visit his house. Characters: Mr. Slausen / Davey Slausen, Jerry, Molly, Becky Location: Lost Oasis grounds
• Animated Waxwork Museum — The visitors see animated waxwork figures inside the tourist trap museum. Characters: Mr. Slausen / Davey Slausen, Jerry, Molly, Becky Location: Slausen's museum
• Eileen Searches For Phone — Eileen leaves the museum to search for a phone in the nearby house. Characters: Eileen, Mr. Slausen / Davey Slausen Location: Nearby house

The House Takes Its Victims

Eileen is killed and transformed into a mannequin, while Slausen conceals what happened. Becky investigates and is captured alongside Jerry and Tina.

Key Events

• Eileen Becomes A Mannequin — A masked figure appears, objects move, and Eileen is strangled before becoming a mannequin. Characters: Eileen, Mr. Slausen / Davey Slausen, Mannequin Location: Nearby house
• Slausen Conceals Eileen's Fate — Slausen returns and tells Molly and Becky that he did not find Eileen. Characters: Mr. Slausen / Davey Slausen, Molly, Becky Location: Slausen's museum
• Becky Searches The House — Becky enters the house and finds a mannequin resembling Eileen. Characters: Becky, Molly Location: Nearby house
• Becky Faces The Killer — The masked killer and multiple mannequins attack Becky inside the house. Characters: Becky, Mr. Slausen / Davey Slausen, Mannequin Location: Nearby house
• Basement Captives Revealed — Becky wakes tied beside Jerry and discovers Tina strapped to a table. Characters: Becky, Jerry, Tina Location: House basement
• Tina Is Killed — The masked man kills Tina while Jerry and Becky remain captive. Characters: Tina, Jerry, Becky, Mr. Slausen / Davey Slausen Location: House basement

The Mask Comes Off

Jerry resists the masked killer, but Molly is manipulated with a gun loaded with blanks. Slausen reveals that he is the masked man and captures her.

Key Events

• Jerry Attacks The Killer — Jerry frees himself and attacks the killer but is overpowered. Characters: Jerry, Becky, Mr. Slausen / Davey Slausen Location: House basement
• Molly Receives A False Gun — Slausen drives Molly to the museum and gives her a gun before entering the building. Characters: Molly, Mr. Slausen / Davey Slausen Location: Road near the museum
• The Masked Man Is Slausen — Molly fires, discovers the gun contains blanks, and sees Slausen remove the mask. Characters: Molly, Mr. Slausen / Davey Slausen Location: Museum entrance

Axe At The Museum

Becky is killed, and Jerry returns in mannequin form. After seeing Slausen's animated wife figure, Molly kills Slausen and escapes with the mannequin versions of her friends.

Key Events

• Becky Is Killed — Slausen takes Becky to the museum, where an Indian chief figure throws a knife into her head. Characters: Becky, Mr. Slausen / Davey Slausen, Mannequin Location: Slausen's museum
• Jerry Returns As Mannequin — Jerry arrives to rescue Molly but has unknowingly been transformed into a mannequin. Characters: Jerry, Molly, Mr. Slausen / Davey Slausen, Mannequin Location: Nearby house
• The Wife Figure Moves — Slausen dances with his wife's figure, and Molly sees that the figure has become animated. Characters: Molly, Mr. Slausen / Davey Slausen, Mannequin Location: Slausen's house
• Molly Kills Slausen — Traumatized by the animated figure, Molly kills Slausen with an axe. Characters: Molly, Mr. Slausen / Davey Slausen Location: Slausen's house
• Molly Drives Away Insane — The next morning, an insane Molly drives away with mannequin versions of her friends. Characters: Molly, Mannequin, Mannequin, Mannequin Location: Rural road

Story Breakdown

• Stranded Travelers — The group becomes isolated after mechanical trouble separates Woody from the others.
  • Flat Tire — Woody leaves Eileen to find a gas station.
  • Lost Oasis — The remaining travelers arrive at Slausen's tourist trap.
• Slausen's Welcome — Slausen appears threatening but presents himself as a possible helper.
  • Shotgun Encounter — Slausen confronts the visitors for trespassing.
  • Museum Invitation — He offers tools and brings the group toward his house.
• Waxwork Terror — The tourist attraction reveals supernatural figures and separates the visitors.
  • Animated Figures — The group sees waxwork figures moving inside the museum.
  • Eileen's Search — Eileen leaves for a phone and enters the nearby house.
• Victims Become Figures — The killer converts victims into mannequins while hiding the truth from the survivors.
  • Eileen's Transformation — Eileen is strangled and found as a mannequin.
  • Basement Captives — Becky, Jerry, and Tina are held in the basement.
• The Killer Revealed — The survivors encounter escalating violence before Slausen's masked identity is exposed.
  • Tina's Death — The masked man kills Tina in front of the captives.
  • Blanks In The Gun — Molly discovers that Slausen gave her useless ammunition.
• Museum's Final Horror — The remaining survivors are destroyed or transformed as Molly confronts Slausen.
  • Becky Falls — An Indian chief figure kills Becky with a thrown knife.
  • Jerry Transformed — Jerry returns to rescue Molly but is already a mannequin.
• Molly's Breakdown — Molly kills Slausen but escapes psychologically damaged with the mannequin survivors.
  • Axe Execution — Molly kills Slausen after seeing the animated wife figure.
  • Insane Departure — Molly drives away with mannequin versions of her friends.

Directed by

David Schmoeller

Key Cast

• Chuck Connors — Mr. Slausen / Davey Slausen
• Jocelyn Jones — Molly
• Jon Van Ness — Jerry
• Robin Sherwood — Eileen
• Tanya Roberts — Becky