Abducted | 1973 | USA | Don Jones

Rather tawdrily released as Schoolgirls in Chains in its native US, Abducted follows a series of female hitchhikers as they sequentially fall prey to a pair of demented brothers who kidnap them and imprison them in their isolated country home, subjecting them to violence, molestation and rape at the whim of the men’s mysterious mother. While the twist is certainly not unique, the film excels at portraying an incredibly uncomfortable atmosphere that predates the similar vibe of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, as well as featuring surprisingly well-written (and well-acted) characters. The sleazy US title would have been enough to attract the attention of the censorious DPP, but the UK retitle did little to cover up the film’s genuinely unnerving scenes of sexual violence and psychological tortures.