TRAMPA INFERNAL (1989)
aka HELL'S TRAP
(part of HORROR FROM SOUTH OF THE BORDER VOLUME 1) Directed by Pedro Galindo III
BCI/Deimos DVD
THE FILM
R u ready for Freddy?
"Whoever kills the bear will be the winner. It's about showing the town who's the best!" Say -- that's not a bad idea. Infusing our late 80s cultural acumen with a psychopathic doll-midget (Muerte Infernal) and sympathetic clown-midgets (Al Filo Del Terror) wasn't enough. Mexico still had something to prove. So what better way to communicate "WE ARE THE BEST!" than producing Trampa Infernal, an absurd 75 minute wooded slasher which utilizes a Freddy Krueger-gloved killer? That's right. There is no better way.
Nacho (brillo mullet, white stonewash) always wins the paintball games. Mauricio (wings, black stonewash) always loses. Therefore, Mauricio accosts Nacho with the ultimate challenge: hunting a bear in the woods. And that, my friends, is how you do it in Mexico. Rising to the occasion, the bros assemble a crack team (fat guy, punch-happy girlfriend, a few other dopes) and head out to show each other who's boss. Lo-fives. Paddle-ball. Fat jokes. Tent problems. Suddenly, a war vet/survivalist-killer named Jesse emerges from a cave. And, as legend has it, he's "still at war...with everybody!" As such, Jess sports a plastic mannequin mask and wig, the knife-fingers, grenades, tear gas, and a machine gun.
Yes. A machine gun.
What if Berserker was really good? What if bear-hunting was a social stepping stone? What if fat guys liked to eat? Ponder no more. Trampa Infernal is neither high nor psychotic. It is, however, as direct and uncluttered as Mexican horror can get in the year 1989. In fact, with the frequent woods-wandering, lame characterizations, and somewhat conservative gore content, Trampa might even be clumped in with straight-up fools like Demon Warrior; all Zzz's, no skeeze. But we know better.
When our dear familiar, the slasher, gets the once-over in faraway lands, the results are often blissfully deranged. The Brazilians did it with Satanic Attraction. France blessed us with Ogroff. And now, Mexico chimes in with Trampa. But in this case, derangement is on holiday. No sweat. Trampa Infernal is a cozy, asymmetric slasher with ridiculous plot pursuits, shameless pilfering, and the keen power to make you smile when Jesse's hand gets blown off (but not his misshapen Freddy glove). Incidentally, no bears appear in this motion picture.
Mexico rests its case.
AUDIO AND VIDEO
I've only known of this film's existence via the world of non-subtitled bootlegs, so the DVD is already on my good side. Thankfully, it stays there. The clean, full frame print lies above VHS, but it isn't quite pristine. Blacks were thick. Colors were attractive. No compression was evident. The mono sound was up to snuff. Overall, it's just right. And yes, we get the original Spanish language soundtrack with optional English subtitles.
EXTRAS
Besting, coast-to-coast. The four-disc, eight-film release of BCI/Deimos' "Horror From South Of The Border" may be one of the greatest trash DVD releases ever conceived. In addition to Trampa and a port of the previous Cemetery Of Terror/Grave Robbers disc, this set includes Vacation Of Terror, Vacation Of Terror 2, The Demon Rat, and Don't Panic (English and Spanish versions).
I haven't even heard of the latter four yet, let alone watched them. Like that last bottle of Anchor Steam Holiday Ale in my fridge, their eventual consumption will be both delectable and bittersweet.
FINAL THOUGHTS
THEY ARE THE BEST. Trampa Infernal is a daft, forthright slasher that should be coveted by everyone, everywhere. Buy "Horror From South Of The Border" today. Lo-five me later.
— Joseph A. Ziemba, 01.31.08 | 
Hello my name is Nacho
Bring it to bear
Hellzatrappin'
Smell the glove
|
