Nightmare in Badham County (1976)

Director by John Llewellyn Moxey
Starring Deborah Raffin, Lynne Moody, Chuck Connors

"Raise that strap to me white trash and I will tear your ugly heart out!" 

This was the most stressful watch I've experienced in a long time. This was a TV movie, but it is unlike any tv movie that I ever remember seeing. Granted this is some kind of theatrical cut but it's loaded with full-frontal nudity and rape (including a teenager). It's a women in prison story about two freewheeling California girls who run afoul of a racist small-town sheriff (Chuck Conners), who railroads them and sends them to a prison farm. Robert Reed (Mr Brady) is the warden! Tina Louise (Ginger) is the main prison guard! The prisoners are forced to work in the field all day in grimy sackdresses that they are not allowed to wash. They are routinely beaten, sexually assaulted and murdered. The two main girls plot their escape but you just know it's a doomed mission. Despite being loaded with established tv actors that you recognize from much lighter things, this all felt very real and was played very seriously. It was surprisingly upsetting. I don't remember this airing, hopefully my mom didn't let me watch it. My buddy Amanda the TV movie queen provided the commentary track on the bluray. I'll give it a listen when I'm emotionally ready (ugh). Anyways definitely recommended, just prepare yourself for seriously bleak tones.

- Ken McIntyre