This is a comparison between the US TV version and the the R-Rated theatrical version. Both versions can be found on the US Blu-ray from Kino Lorber.

The two students Cathy and Diane are on their way back to California after their road trip. A car breakdown forces them to spend the night in a small southern city. Instead of going to the hotel, they spend the night in the wilderness. There they are picked up by the filthy Sheriff Slim Danen, who imprisons them for violation of the public peace. Slim takes a liking on Diane and rapes her in her cell. When the two are presented to the judge the next day, the judge rejects the accusation of rape and puts them in a labour camp because they have allegedly not paid the car repair shop's bill. This is the beginning of a long martyrdom, because the conditions in the labour camp are catastrophic. Both the camp leader Dancer and the guards mistreat the prisoners. Cathy and Diane desperately try to escape from the camp but any glimmer of hope is immediately nipped in the bud by the corrupt system.

Nightmare in Badham County is a production of the US TV channel abc in which two innocent female students get into a corrupt system made up of a judge, sheriff and camp warden and end up in a women's prison/labour camp in which they are physically and sexually exploited. With its serious tone and uncompromising staging which is surprisingly dark and nihilistic for a TV production, Nightmare in Badham County is a little pearl among the WIP (Women in prison) movies. Admittedly, the political aspect of the film is only half-baked and you focus too quickly on the hard life in the women's prison but both in terms of content and staging, the film is so much better than most other WIP movies so that genre friends can only be advised to watch it. Kino Lorber released the film for the first time on a Blu-ray.

In addition to the TV version, the producers of the film also decided to produce an R-rated theatrical version for the international market. This version later appeared again in the US from Vidmark with an unnrated release on VHS. It should be noted that there is no difference between the unrated VHS and R-rated theatrical version. The TV version and the R-rated version are identical but there are many differences. I suppose the r-rated theatrical version was created first and afterwards the TV version. This is shown by the fact that in the TV version very often alternative shots were used and some scenes look a bit rounder, for example because the version cuts towards the person who is talking at the moment moments earlier. The R-rated version contains some scenes that seem too daring for US TV. The most striking differences are:

• Diane can be seen naked when she is raped by the Sheriff.
  

  

  
  
• The scene in which the prisoner is punished is significantly more explicit in the R-rated version
  

  

  
  
• When they fight in the field among the women, the women rip their clothes off.
  

  

  
  
• In a new scene Dancer inspects the half-naked prisoners
  

  

  
  
• The scene in which Cathy is punished is much harder
  

  

  
  
• In an additional scene a prisoner is sexually exploited by a guard
  

  

  
  
• In the end Greer is killed by Sarah, while she only collapses unconscious in the TV version
  

  

In terms of quality, the TV version is significantly better than the rated version, as the following image comparison shows. The TV version shows more at the top and bottom, while the R-rated version is open at the side edges.

Image comparison:

TV version:

R-Rated:

Runtimes:

TV version: 93:10 min. (TV)
R-rated: 101:33 min. (RR)

[00:00:00][00:00:00]

The TV version begins with a remark that the film is based on facts.

The R-rated version starts with the abc logo.

TV: 14 sec.
RR: 29 sec.


[00:00:26][00:00:41]

The TV version is called "Nightmare in Badham County", while the R-rated version is only called "Nightmare".

No time difference.


[00:04:15][00:04:30]

Sheriff's putting his car back. George says "shucks".

RR: 5 sec.


[00:05:19][00:05:39]

The TV version cuts onto the license plate as the sheriff says "California Plates."

In the R-rated version you can still see the Sheriff.

TV: 2 sec.
RR: 1 sec


[00:06:29][00:06:49]

The TV version cuts towards Cathy again before she gets into the car.

TV: 2 sec.


[00:07:02][00:07:20]

In the TV version the car can be seen longer.

The R-rated cuts earlier on the girls. Diane gives a gentle push with her fist.

TV: 1 sec
RR: 1 sec


[00:10:31][00:10:50]

The TV version cuts onto the mechanic as he says, "I'll call her right now."

In the R-rated there is no cut and the girls are still to be seen as the mechanic walks past them.

TV: 3 sec.
RR: 0.5 sec.


[00:12:59][00:13:16]

In the TV version the two girls can be seen earlier. The "look" of Diane can be heard in the R-rated before the Sheriff is seen.

TV: 1 sec


[00:13:11][00:13:27]

The R-rated has a camera movement from the police car to the prison before Diane is seen in the cell.

RR: 10 sec.


[00:16:01][00:16:26]

The Sheriff tears Diane's shirt apart and pushes her to the side.

RR: 14 sec.


[00:16:10][00:16:50]

The TV version now shows the camera movement from the car to the prison.

In the R-rated you can see the crying Cathy longer. It fades over to the Sheriff.

TV: 11 sec.
RR: 4 sec.


[00:17:06][00:17:39]

The TV version dims as Diane is seen and reappears as you can see the street.

The R-rated has a normal cut. This allows you to see the road a bit earlier.

TV: 7 sec.
RR: 2 sec.


[00:18:16][00:18:43]

The TV version zooms as the judge is seen.

No time difference.


[00:18:39][00:19:06]

The TV version cuts on Cathy and Diane then on the mechanic who gives the note to the judge.

There are no re-cuts in the R-rated version. Cathy and Diane can still be seen as the mechanic brings the note to the judge.

TV: 10 sec.
RR: 15 sec.


[00:18:59][00:19:31]

The TV version shows the judge, then Cathy and Diane are to be seen earlier than he says that they still have an unpaid bill.

The R-rated uses a different camera shot of the judge.

TV: 8 sec.
RR: 8 sec.


[00:19:14][00:19:46]

The TV version cuts on Cathy as she asks "What new tire?"

In the R-rated you can see the Sheriff a bit earlier instead.

TV: 2 sec.
RR: 2 sec.


[00:19:52][00:20:24]

The TV version shows Diane when she says the sheriff came to her in the cell. Then it's cut to the judge.

The R-rated uses two alternative shots.

TV: 14 sec.
RR: 16 sec.


[00:20:46][00:21:19]

The TV version cuts towards the judge as he inquires.

In the R-rated you can still see the girls.

TV: 2 sec.
RR: 2 sec.


[00:20:51][00:21:25]

In the TV version the judge can be seen longer than he asks how Cathy wants to have seen the rape.

The R-rated cut's towards the sheriff a bit earlier.

TV: 2 sec.
RR: 2 sec.


[00:21:16][00:21:50]

In the TV version the judge leaves and the woman comes to them. She says that they should go. Cathy mentions that they are still allowed to make phone calls.

In the R-rated version you can see the two girls. Cathy mentions that they are still allowed to make phone calls.

TV: 10 sec.
RR: 10 sec.


[00:21:28][00:22:01]

In the TV version the woman says it's time to go. Cathy is supposed to move ahead.

In the R-rated the shots are not changed, otherwise the same happens in this scene.

TV: 4 sec.
RR: 9 sec


[00:23:04][00:23:42]

In the TV version, the guards let the women get out of the car.

Then you see the man on the phone earlier. He says "Why don't you tell the girl over there?"

The R-rated uses the same shots as the guards who let the women get out.

TV: 18 sec.
RR: 6 sec.


[00:23:45][00:24:11]

In the TV version the prisoners are led to the house by the female guards.

The R-rated shows two other shots.

TV: 19 sec.
RR: 13 sec.


[00:25:37][00:25:57]

The TV version cuts short towards Greer, who says "Thank you, sir!".

TV: 2 sec.


[00:25:421][00:26:00]

In the R-rated Cathy can be seen earlier. Greer says "Okay, let's move it."

RR: 1 sec


[00:25:43][00:26:03]

The TV version cuts onto Greer, who says, "Okay, let's move it."

The R-rated cuts on Dancer instead, who says, "You never, what?"

TV: 2 sec.
RR: 3 sec.


[00:25:47][00:26:08]

In the R-rated Dancer and Greer can be seen earlier.

RR: 2 sec.


[00:26:48][00:27:10]

The TV version cuts onto Dancer as he says Cathy should be taken away.

Dulcie and Cathy can still be seen in the R-rated.

TV: 2 sec.
RR: 2 sec.


[00:27:28][00:27:50]

After the dogs were to be seen, the TV version shows Dulcie and Cathy.

The R-rated shows an alternative shot in which Cathy is pushed forward.

TV: 3 sec.
RR: 3 sec.


[00:27:37][00:28:00]

The TV version now shows the shots in which Cathy is pushed forward.

The R-rated shows Dulcie and Cathy, then the women at work and the guard.

TV: 3 sec.
RR: 12 sec.


[00:27:56][00:28:28]

The R-rated cuts again on the guard on the tower before Cathy is brought into the hut.

RR: 3 sec.