Human Experiments Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Human Experiments Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf July 21, 2018

In the mid-1980s, 1979’s “Human Experiments” was added to the UK’s list of “Video Nasties,” banning it from distribution due to perverse violence. It’s difficult to understand this decision, as the film is hardly the torture-a-thon its box art and title suggests, and perhaps producers were delighted to suddenly be in possession of such forbidden fruit, newly empowered to sell the picture as aggressively as possible. The reality of “Human Experiments” is that it’s not a particularly haunting endeavor, with director Gregory Goodell and writer Richard Rothstein aiming for something more sinister than graphic, keeping the effort well within television movie parameters for intensity. While sold as an agony machine and a women-in-prison feature, the effort never really settles anywhere specific, more eager to sample different moods than remain frightening for very long.

Trying to make a living as a traveling singer in the south, Rachel (Linda Haynes) arrives at a rural dive bar ready to work, but the owner, Matt (Aldo Ray), has different plans for the visiting performer, trying to force her into a sexual situation after her set. Rachel refuses, trying to move on the next gig, but trouble increases for the stranger, who accidentally comes across a murder scene, ending up shooting the killer in self-defense. With Matt’s anger over his rejection still burning, Rachel is arrested and tried for murder, sentenced to hard time in the local prison, handed over to Dr. Hans (Geoffrey Lewis) for safekeeping. Struggling with her new reality, Rachael tries to play nice with her fellow inmates, offered help from Mover (Ellen Travolta). However, Dr. Hans, while keeping a calm demeanor, is up to no good in the prison, trying to bend Rachel’s mind and body with experiments that drive the innocent woman to the edge of sanity, inspiring her to find a way out of her grim situation as quickly as possible.

Perhaps there’s enough horror in the opening of “Human Experiments” to hang an entire film on, following Rachael as she enters a rural town with hopes to complete her gig and move on. Standing in the way is Matt, the greasy owner of the bar and a man who’s dedicated his evening to bedding the singer with or without her consent. Ray is ideally cast as the handsy goon, making a distinct impression as a man who doesn’t take rejection well, eventually punishing Rachel with a roach-laden hotel room and taking basic expenses such as meals and lodging out of her already meager payday. Matt applies basic caveman aggression toward the talent, and “Human Experiments” extracts a good amount of unease from their interactions, giving the first act an agreeable level of discomfort that could really carry throughout the movie, but the screenplay is after something more recognizable in design to horrify viewers, soon slamming Rachel behind bars.

While the southern justice used to incarcerate Rachel doesn’t hold up to logic, “Human Experiments” moves quick enough to avoid complete ridicule, swiftly sending the innocent woman to a cell of her own, joining only a few other inmates in what appears to be a prison built for 12, keeping things nice and cozy for Dr. Hans, who’s the primary puppet master in the building. The screenplay details a few of the other ladies behind bars, with most kind to the new addition, subverting expectations for a display of cellblock authority. In fact, the facility is almost nice in a way, with ample cell room, videogames to play, and, arriving later in the picture, live music in the form of a glam band hired to play for such a small population. Rachel doesn’t deserve her fate, but all things considered, it could’ve been much worse, finding leisure and support inside the hellhole.

“Human Experiments” eventually graduates to more bizarre events, with Dr. Hans initially forcing pills on Rachel to help soften her up for the journey ahead. He’s a cold manipulator, using his position of power for evil means, though what he’s up to isn’t initially clear, finding the screenplay portioning out ghastly events slowly, hoping to build to an explosion of exploitation that could pay off the sluggish pace. Haynes does her best to crank up torment levels, and while her acting isn’t the sharpest, her scream is impressively guttural, selling Rachel’s unraveling with amazing authenticity, making every moment of submission sound like absolute agony. Lewis achieves satisfying menace with the more reserved role, tasked with communicating intimidation blended with faux concern for the inmates, giving Dr. Hans an unsettling way about him that elevates “Human Experiments,” giving it a little more presence than the average torture film.

Human Experiments Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation is billed as a "Brand new HD master from the original 35mm A/B roll camera negative." I'm sure this is the clearest "Human Experiments" has looked since its theatrical release, perhaps even more so, finding detail quite good throughout the viewing event. Skin surfaces are emphasized through close-ups and exposure, picking up on wear and tear, and costuming remains fibrous, showcasing prison uniforms and mad doctor suits. Creepy crawly stretches also benefit from sharpness, keeping the gross-outs vivid, along with other acts of psychological and physical violence. Colors are a tad strange, with hues refreshed to such a degree, certain scenes take on the visual appearance of a colorized movie. However, the palette remains inviting, with bright primaries, making such modest details, such as a blue in Lewis's eyes, emerge with authority. Delineation is acceptable. Source is in decent condition, with some speckling and mild scratches. Brief banding is detected as well.

Human Experiments Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix opens with a shock note of synth scoring, which could trigger a heart attack if levels aren't prepared beforehand. It's certainly not a track built for dimension, but the essentials are represented, leading with reasonably clear dialogue exchanges, which work through measured conversations and more aggressive acts of unraveling, with Haynes and her screaming fits never slipping into distortion. The aforementioned scoring can be aggressive at times, trying to conjure scares and emphasize horrors, sustaining mood without overwhelming the drama.

Human Experiments Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features director Gregory Goodell.

• "Nightmare Theater Mode" (4:58, HD) provides an introduction from host Katarina Leigh Waters, who runs through IMDB filmographies and brief trivia about "Human Experiments." Curiously, she asks viewers to check out an interview with star Linda Haynes, which isn't found on this disc.

• And Theatrical Trailer #1 (2:31, SD) and Theatrical Trailer #2 (2:09, SD) are included.

Human Experiments Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Human Experiments" eventually trades eeriness for more literal invasions of horror, watching as Rachel succumbs to the experimentation, leading her into nightmare realms populated with creepy crawlies and black magic. Goodell and Rothstein are determined to give the audience what they want, but they often seem confused about how to do it, accidentally slipping into absurdity at times, while the ending doesn't leave scars as a great genre effort should. Performances are interesting and the prison ambiance is weirdly inviting, but "Human Experiments" is ultimately confused and uneven, becoming the rare fright film that's more successful depicting everyday torment from angry, stupid men than anything more pharmaceutical or even supernatural.