aerosmithandwesson

During the late seventies and early eighties, Paramount Pictures began a streak of quality horror films paralleled only by the Universal Films of the thirties and forties. Exemplified by the Friday the 13th series, My Bloody Valentine, Silver Bullet, April Fools Day, Tourist Trap, and many others, these films, though headed by diverse directors, presented a singular atmospheric moodiness, attained through a mandated set of production techniques. As a result Paramount was able to consistently release films that seemed vaguely familiar in a comforting way, yet dealt with a wide variety of unique subject matters within the expansive slasher genre.

My Bloody Valentine is an exploration of the environment and lives of modern day miners, an idea rarely touched by the horror genre. The easygoing feel of the town (almost stephen king-esque) is rocked by a holiday slasher, climaxing with an exciting chase through the mineshaft with few survivors. Superb acting by a well-selected cast, whose characters are given a chance to develop is the highlight of this top rate horror gem. A movie so good that one of the best bands ever borrowed their name from the title! See it now!

During the late seventies and early eighties, Paramount Pictures began a streak of quality horror films paralleled only by the Universal Films of the thirties and forties. Exemplified by the Friday the 13th series, My Bloody Valentine, Silver Bullet, April Fools Day, Tourist Trap, and many others, these films, though headed by diverse directors, presented a singular atmospheric moodiness, attained through a mandated set of production techniques. As a result Paramount was able to consistently release films that seemed vaguely familiar in a comforting way, yet dealt with a wide variety of unique subject matters within the expansive slasher genre.

Tourist Trap evokes the carnival imagery of Tobe Hooper's The Funhouse, yet brings it within the guidelines of the Paramount Films from this era. The dark settings and unsettling mannequins and masks lend a scary non-human atmosphere to the film that belies it PG rating. The acting is consistently solid as can expected from Paramount films from this era. The characters are even likable, making their deaths all the more tragic and shocking when they inevitably occur, a rarity in the films of competing studios such as New World or Vestron during the same era, where deaths are treated as a comic or joyful event. Under-appreciated in its day, and nearly forgotten now, this film has truly withstood the test of time and has become a classic in the eyes of those who are lucky enough to revisit it. Do yourself a favor and pay a visit to this incredible "Tourist Trap".

People are so tied up in plots and settings, the important thing is that this movie is hilarious, and hilarious in a fresh and satisfying way. Yes the people are dressed like its the 80's, and there are also characters using the internet. Have any of you people been to Idaho? If you have been to Idaho you would understand that this movie is set in the present, and that there are no contradictions whatsoever. Also, lack of a plot? Come on... This is a coming of age story, not unlike many before it. It may lack the obvious conflicts and relationships that one would find in a typical Hollywood blockbuster (thats fine by me), but in the end its about nerds finding their own niche and being comfortable in their own skin. By the end of the film, each main character has overcome some adversity through the use of his or her own "skills", and I was rooting each of them all the way. All of that aside though, I was laughing throughout the entire film and so was everyone else in the theater. As long as you can put your bogus pretensions aside, you will too.