Human Experiments

Human Experiments (also known as Beyond the Gate) is a 1979 American horror film directed and co-produced by Gregory Goodell.^[1] It stars Linda Haynes, Geoffrey Lewis, Ellen Travolta, Aldo Ray, Jackie Coogan and Lurene Tuttle. This film earned its notoriety for being targeted by the 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^[3] and had originally been given an uncut (now defunct^[4]) X rating by the BBFC for theatrical release in 1979.^[2]

Human Experiments
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Gregory Goodell
Screenplay by	Richard Rothstein[1]
Story by	Gregory Goodell[1]
Produced by	Gregory Goodell Summer Brown[1]
Starring	Linda Haynes Geoffrey Lewis Ellen Travolta Aldo Ray Jackie Coogan Lurene Tuttle
Cinematography	João Fernandes[1]
Edited by	Barbara Pokras Jon Gregory[1]
Music by	Mark Bucci[1]
Production company	Pyramid Entertainment[1]
Release date	May 12, 1979 (1979-05-12)
Running time	78 minutes[2]
Country	United States
Language	English

Plot

Rachel Foster (Linda Haynes) is a country singer traveling 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 is railroaded into a women's correctional facility by the prurient bar owner's brother, Sheriff Tibbs (Jackie Coogan). As well as being 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, whereupon 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, to keep Rachel under his thumb and to hide his radical therapy methods, tries to have Rachel kill the warden, but Rachel apparently regains her senses and breaks the programming. She shoots up the office and seems to wound Klein. Some time 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^[2]
• Geoffrey Lewis as Dr. Hans Kline^[2]
• Ellen Travolta as Mover^[2]
• Aldo Ray as Matt Tibbs^[2]
• Jackie Coogan as Sheriff Tibbs^[2]
• Lurene Tuttle as Granny^[2]
• Mercedes Shirley as Warden Weber^[2]
• Bobby Porter as Derril Willis^[2]
• Darlene Craviotto as Rita^[2]

Home video

Scorpion Releasing released the film on Blu-ray in 2018, featuring an audio commentary track with director Greg Goodell.^[5]