Watch The End of the Road

The End of the Road is a 1976 American drama film directed by Aram Avakian, based on the novel of the same name by John Barth. The film follows the story of a young psychology professor named Jacob Horner (Stacy Keach), who becomes mentally ill and seeks help from a psychiatric institution. However, his experience at the institution is far from helpful, as he is subjected to various experimental treatments and encounters a host of eccentric characters.

The film opens with Horner teaching a college class and discussing the ideas of B.F. Skinner, who believed that human behavior was shaped entirely by external stimuli. Horner challenges this notion and argues that people have free will, leading to a heated debate with his students. After class, he returns home to his wife Rennie (Dorothy Tristan) and begins to act increasingly strange, wandering around the house aimlessly and muttering to himself.

Over the following months, Horner's behavior becomes more erratic and he eventually winds up at a psychiatric institution. The doctors there are initially sympathetic and suggest that his condition might be a result of stress, but their methods of treatment border on torture. He is electroshocked, forced to take drug cocktails, and subjected to sensory deprivation in a tank of water.

As Horner's mental state deteriorates, he meets a group of other patients who are equally troubled. They include a woman named Joanie (Leigh Taylor-Young) who is obsessed with her own sexuality, a former soldier named Billy (James Earl Jones) who is haunted by memories of the Vietnam War, and an African-American man named Jacob (Harris Yulin) who is convinced he is a God-like figure. Despite their different backgrounds, they form a bond and try to make sense of their shared experiences.

Throughout the film, flashbacks are used to reveal more about Horner's past and the events that led to his breakdown. He had an affair with a student named Pamela (Kate Reid) who was later found dead, and he is haunted by guilt over her death. As his treatment at the institution becomes more extreme, he begins to question his own sanity and wonders if the doctors are intentionally driving him crazy.

The End of the Road is a bleak and disturbing film that explores themes of power, control, and identity. The doctors at the institution are portrayed as sadistic and manipulative, using their authority to inflict pain and suffering on their patients. Horner and the other patients are trapped in a Kafkaesque nightmare, unable to escape or make sense of their situation.

The film is visually striking, with surreal imagery and a sense of disorientation that reflects the characters' mental states. The performances are uniformly excellent, with Keach delivering a powerful turn as the troubled Horner. James Earl Jones is also memorable as the shell-shocked Billy, and Leigh Taylor-Young brings a sense of vulnerability to her portrayal of Joanie.

Overall, The End of the Road is a challenging and thought-provoking film that will not be to everyone's taste. However, for those willing to engage with its themes and ideas, it offers a powerful and unforgettable viewing experience.