The central premise of this film is the notion that
scientific “research” could be conflated with the infantile sexual fantasies.
The mad “scientist” at the heart of things wants to “experiment” on young women
by having forced intercourse and, if they fail to meet his rather vague
criteria, he has them frozen solid using some process that is actually less
plausible than Kenneth Williams’ turning Joan Simms into a living showroom
dummy in Carry on Screaming. The
ending was also marginally less convincing than the British comedy and I did
cry out “frying tonight” just for the heck of it…
Of course, Carry
on… aimed to titillate through suggestion more than specifics and that’s
where these films diverge. Like so many films of this period, the narrative
feels like an excuse to set up some pervy happenings but at least, unlike some
others, this film does contain some acting from actual actors.
We begin at a disco party with the crease of corduroy and
the static spark of woolly jumpers rubbing against nylon slacks in a remote
countryside barn. There are lots of groovy guys and chicks with little
inhibition raving the day away free from the censorious attentions of
authority. But freedom comes at a price and one girl, a raven-haired beauty
(natch) called Ann (Eve Reeves) is taken upstairs by a guy who proceeds to try
and take things too far… He’s chased off by a middle-aged man who has been
lurking… he is Dr Bradley (Daniel Garth) and the peak he sneaks at Ann as she
gets dressed show he’s far from innocent, but he seems amiable enough
Back in the dance Ann and her pretty pal Terry (Joyce
Danner) talk to the Doctor and, apart from looking like a younger version of
Henry Kissinger – surely they notice that? – he leaves them with a good
impression. When the two try to drive off in Ann’s car though it’s inexplicably
non-functional and the Doc pops up to suggest that they could, er, stay at his
place until the motor is fixed. The girls hike up to a very Scooby-Dooby
mansion and accept tea with the Doc and his totally non-sinister sister Ida
(Irene Lawrence).
 |
| Raven-haired Eve Reeves |
They’re shown to their room, clearly unaware of the
audience pleading for them to just run away but, by the time they find bars on
the windows and their door locked… it’s far too late. A glimpse in the wardrobe
reveals dozens of mod dresses… there’s a feeling that they’re not the first to
stay at the house.
They are reassured by Ida… the door’s locked just because
and well, all will be fine in the morning. This takes the pressure off enough
for some good old-fashioned Sapphic sexual tension as Terry (ah, boy’s name…)
casts meaningful glances at Eve’s pert body and holds her just that little bit
tighter than a friend might. The two climb into bed and Terry takes her chances
only to be gently rebuffed and, lie in back in frustration she shockingly,
perhaps, has to console herself…
 |
| Terry holds on... |
The girls try and escape but it’s all part of the game
and whilst Terry is tied up in the experimentation room, the Doctor explains
his cunning and rigorously-scientific discipline. He shows her compromising
pictures of young women he has taken, all to be used to guarantee their silence
after his procedures in which he attempts to find the perfect mate for his seriously-imperfect
body and mind.
Then Evil Ida shows Ann a room in which tied-up Terry is
forced to not only have sex with a man but an ‘orrible, creepy one… Seems the
Doc’s procedure is just an excuse because, I can’t for the life of me see how
this is science? After her ordeal, she and Ann explore escape routes only to
find a cellar full of young women apparently frozen alive – trophies for the
mad Doctor with their brutish handyman (Ivan Agar) worshiping one brunette.
Terry makes a run for it and is chased down – Lurch is faster than he looks!
 |
| The doc gets agitated... |
Then it’s Ann’s turn for the “treatment” and, bizarrely,
this is played as a soft porn scene with the focus firmly on the actress of
course… the Doc must be using some powerful hallucinogens.
Can the girl’s escape his evil clutches, will Lurch ever
get to marry his beautiful brunette statue, what’s in all this for Ida, have
the Doc and Henry Kissenger ever been seen in the same room and will Terry get
to keep her splendid woollen jumper?!
Dusty Verdict:
Behind Locked Doors is slightly
frumpy sexploitation but has atmosphere and some genuine tension. This is
helped by the performance of Joyce Danner in particular, she’s animated and
eloquent with lines that would challenge many a Shakespearian and we share her
revulsion with men on the evidence of this story. Eve Reeves is the less confidently-expressive
although she also makes for a likeable heroine – innocent and less self-aware
than her friend. You root for their escape when faced with Daniel Garth’s –
literally – oily “Doctor” and his wonderfully wicked sister – well played by Irene
Lawrence who lurks with marvellous malevolence!
The ending is predictably illogical and provides the
poetic justice the story requires… it’s a bit of a bubble-gum psych fairytale
and as Terry chats up a pretty girl at the next barn disco, Ann walks off to
the fields with a darkly sexy dude… it’s been a coming of age experience for
both. Nice enough if you can brush off the sexual assault, kidnap, torture, and
the rest that is.
Charles Romine directs well with obviously limited
resources and there is some solidly professional cinematography from Victor
Petrashevic making the most of the locations and human resources…
It was produced by Stanley H. Brassloff - who co-wrote with Charles Romine – who has
some renown for this kind of work… it’s a guilty pleasure but if you suspend
disbelief and moral judgement (everyone got paid?) if you like this sort of
thing you’ll probably like Behind Locked
Doors.
The film is available on DVD from all good online retailers but at "collectable" prices.
