Human Experiments

Human Experiments (also known as Beyond the Gate) is a 1979 American horror film directed and co-produced by Gregory Goodell. It stars Linda Haynes, Geoffrey Lewis, Ellen Travolta, Aldo Ray, Jackie Coogan and Lurene Tuttle. This film earned its notoriety for being targeted by England's Director of Public Prosecutions during the video nasty furore in the early 1980s. Although it was listed on the first "video nasty" list issued by the DPP on July 4, 1983, the film was never prosecuted under the Obscene Publications Act and had originally been given an uncut (now defunct ) X rating by the BBFC for theatrical release in 1979.

Plot
Rachel Foster (Linda Haynes) is a country singer travelling alone through the United States. She resists the advances of lecherous bar owner Mat Tibbs (Aldo Ray) and in her hurry to leave town, she accidentally wrecks her car. Looking for assistance, she finds what appears to be an abandoned house - but after stumbling inside the place, she discovers the scene of a grisly multiple homicide perpetrated by a young boy. As no one believes that the child is responsible for such a horrific act, she's railroaded into a women's correctional facility by the prurient bar owner's brother Sheriff Tibbs (Jackie Coogan). As well as falsely charged with the murders, the innocent musician now finds herself at the mercy of prison psychiatrist Doctor Kline (Geoffrey Lewis) who has diabolical intentions. Kline has some radical techniques for "curing" criminality, and after a failed escape attempt she undergoes his 'treatment' and completely loses her mind. After she is rehabilitated her name is changed to Sarah Jean Walker. Afterwards the warden gets notice that the boy woke up and confessed to killing his whole family. Klein, in an effort to keep Rachel under his thumb and to hide his radical therapy methods, tries to have Rachel kill the warden but, Rachel seems to come to and break the programming. She shoots the office up and seems to wound Klein. Sometime later, Rachel is seen once again singing in a dive bar, however, she now goes by her new name, Sarah Jean Walker.

Cast

 * Linda Haynes as Rachel Foster
 * Geoffrey Lewis as Dr. Hans Kline
 * Ellen Travolta as Mover
 * Aldo Ray as Matt Tibbs
 * Jackie Coogan as Sheriff Tibbs
 * Lurene Tuttle as Granny
 * Mercedes Shirley as Warden Weber
 * Bobby Porter as Derril Willis
 * Darlene Craviotto as Rita

Home video
Scorpion Releasing released the film on Blu-ray in 2018, featuring an audio commentary track with director Greg Goodell.

General and cited references

 * Martin, John: The Seduction of the Gullible: Curious History of the British "Video Nasties" Phenomenon. Nottingham: Procrustes Press, 1993, page 206. ISBN 9780952251002.