This Movie Can Only Be Described With One Word.

Boring

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

There's a more than satisfactory amount of boom-boom in the movie's trim running time.

Nightmare in Badham County is a 'women in prison' film, but I wouldn't recommend going into it expecting something along the same lines as the sleazy Jess Franco women in prison films as you're liable to be disappointed. That being said, this is still an excellent seventies made for TV movie and while it may be lacking in the sleaze factor; it makes up for that in other areas and John Llewellyn Moxey's film is still well worth a look. Naturally, considering that the film is a TV movie; it's not too violent, but influence was still obviously taken from the 'hicksploitation' genre and we focus on a small town where the legal system doesn't exactly adhere to the national standard. Two young college girls are driving through Badham County when they get a flat tire. After finding someone to help them, they run across the local sheriff and come a cropper when he doesn't take too kindly to them brushing off his advances and making a fool out of him. He then sets up his revenge; by having the girls thrown in a backwater prison for a minor offence.This film will no doubt get plaudits for the acting, and it's certainly above average considering the type of film. Deborah Raffin and Lynne Moody give good turns in the lead roles, and really do manage to draw you into their characters. Lynne Moody is the standout for me for giving the more realistic performance; Deborah Raffin overacts to quite a large and noticeable extent on several occasions. The film draws in themes of the racial divide as the prison at the centre of the film separates the blacks from the whites. This is probably the most shocking element considering the lack of sleaze. The prison itself doesn't seem as imposing as some of the prisons shown in other films, and it actually never seemed all that difficult to escape from. However, John Llewellyn Moxey creates a great atmosphere of hopelessness that stems from the inmates and surrounds the central location, which ensures the film has the right feel to it. It all boils down to a well worked and memorable ending and while this film may not be one of the best in its field; it's very good and well worth seeing!

Reminiscent of the Roger Corman cycle of "babes-behind-bars" flicks from the late '60s and early '70s, this is an enjoyable little exploitation item. Maybe some think it has pretensions to mask as "social commentary," but don't believe it, and just enjoy it for what it is--a made-for-TV version of those great Corman Filipino "prison-chicks" flicks. Apparently the video version is a lot more explicit than the TV version, but I haven't seen that one yet, so I can't say. Deborah Raffin and Lynne Moody are the two poor souls who get shanghaied into a Southern hellhole, and while Raffin is her usual bland, whitebread self, Moody steals the show from her. She's a much better actress than Raffin, is (IMHO) prettier and far sexier, and has a fresh, approachable, open appeal that Raffin lacks. Robert Reed does a nice turn as the corrupt prison superintendent, and it's fun to watch Tina Louise playing the sadistic prison matron--and Lana Wood is a blast as a lesbian (ahh, where would women-in-prison movies be without them?) prison guard.All in all, it's a fun watch if you don't take it too seriously--or seriously at all. Check it out.

Contains Spoilers!! Nightmare in Badham County was originally shown as a TV movie.But a later "theatrical" version has turned in video stores.This "theatrical" version has added only a few scenes of fronal nudity and lesbian brutality.But these scenes succeed in making "Nightmare in Badham County" little more than a sleazy,girlie-prison video flick! The TV version (which by now might air on the late-late show) remains a much more tame and more gripping drama.One that leaves the viewer shocked and saddened... The story involves two college girls-Kathy and Diane.Best friends on summer vacation touring through the "deep south".The only problem is that Kathy is white and Diane is black.They happen to encounter car trouble in a small,remote,rural town in which black folks still live in subservience and repression.After telling off the local,bigotted sheriff he arranges their incarceration in a local jailhouse.And after raping the black girl he succeeds in having them sentenced to "30 days" in the local prison farm. This squalid prison farm is run by a wealthy and sleazy warden and the "guards" are actually rifle-toting trustees.The blacks and whites are kept in separate barracks but are treated equally badly!The work is long,hot,and back-breaking.The food is virtually non-existent.Blacks and whites are forbidden to even speak to each other.The trustees are tough andcold.In the complete absence of the nudity and lesbianism of the video version we the TV viewers are able to feel the unbearable heat,hunger,and desperation of Kathy and Diane's plight!Sex is not a way out for them.They're only hope is escape!And escape only results in Kathy's eventual freedom.Diane is killed.And we learn that she is not the only one to die at the hands of Badham County!

One of those movies they used to show late at night or on Saturday afternoons on tv in the 80's. Scarred my little mind, with scenes of violence, rape, and racism. Like your worst nightmare come true. I refused to get out of the car in Georgia when driving to Florida every year after seeing this one.