Death Trap tells the story of a retarded madman who owns a hotel next to the swaps of a small Texan town. In the swamp is he keeps a pet crocodile, which he repeatedly tells us he imported from Africa.

The film starts with a local prostitute leaving the ranch were she works and going to the Starlight Hotel owned by the retarded madman. He takes her to her room but when he realizes she is a prostitute, he goes crazy attacking her then he feeds her to the crocodile.

Another unfortunate couple arrives, and as they are booking into the hotel, their pet dog is attacked and eaten by the crocodile. When the owner of the dog, comes round after the incident he goes down to kill the crocodile with his shotgun, but the crocodiles owner goes crazy and puts an end to his plans, then feeds him to the crocodile. Realizing his family is still upstairs the madman goes and ties up his wife then chases his daughter, who escapes to the underneath of the hotel.

Another couple arrives to complicate matters as one of them is the father of the prostitute who was killed at the beginning of the film. He has come in search of his daughter with his other daughter. As things start complicating themselves further the madman just turns the radio volume up louder and the crocodile gets better fed.......

Well what can I say about this film except I was glad when it was over; I thought it was rather boring and never really got the jest of the story. Death Trap claimed to be based on a true story, but isn't that what all the horror films of the 70's early 80's claimed.

I have read numerous times that Death Trap was Tobe Hooper's greatest film, but in my opinion it is his worst. Following on the success of Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Death Trap seems to lack in all departments except the gore. The acting is terrible, the tension is non existent and the story line is well is there one. The only plus point I can say about Death Trap is Marilyn Burns screaming performance deserves a 10 out of 10 again, but up until her capture her performance was dire. Even Robert England's appearance does nothing to lift this film from the basement. Just goes to show that adding gore into a film doesn't make it a hit.

Death Trap doesn't have any sequels fortunately, although it is often referred to as a follow up to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre it is not. The only thing it has in common with TCM is that Tobe Hooper directs and Marilyn Burns stars. What I can say about Death Trap is that it seems to take inspiration from Psycho, but it is nothing near the class.