A scientist is experimenting with teenagers and turning them into murderers.Although this movie is supposed to be taking place in suburban Illinois (the home state of director Michael Laughlin), it is actually the first horror film shot in New Zealand. Not until many years later, with Peter Jackson, would such horror films (notably "Bad Taste") really showcase the New Zealand scenery.The cast is impressive, with the Oscar-winning Louise Fletcher ("One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest") in a small role and a young Dan Shor (perhaps best known as Billy the Kid from "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure"). Shor makes a great leading man, and it is a shame he never seems to have risen above supporting actor.The song "Lightnin' Strikes" was included because the writer (Bill Condon) was a big fan, but it also happens to be very appropriate for a horror film with its imagery of a stormy night. Heck, it also makes for a great group dance (surprisingly). Condon, incidentally, became a director in the late 1980s, and went on to direct some huge successes, including two films in the "Twilight" series.Severin has released the film on Blu-ray under the alternate (and inferior) title "Dead Kids". The disc is packed full of special features, including multiple commentary tracks. Even those who have enjoyed this film many times will be able to find something new here.

In a small town in Illinois, the local teenagers have found a new way to make after school cash. They have been volunteering as test subjects at the local University in the psychology department run by Dr. Gwen Parkinson (Lewis). Parkinson is secretly doing the work of Dr. Le Sange (Dignam) who is believed to be dead after the crazed doctor was caught doing mind experiments on the kids which resulted in the death of the wife of local sheriff John Brady (Murphy). John's son Pete (Shor) has now began to volunteer and starts showing psychotic tendencies. Also known as "Strange Behavior", this film was shot in New Zealand and passed off as Illinois. Essentially it's the mad scientist behind the evil in this unbalanced horror film. There are a few effective sequences like when a mind controlled girl chases an old woman through a house and when twisted Oliver (Marc McClure) puts on a Tor Johnson mask and stalks and slashes a girl at a party. Unfortunately there are plenty of dull moments spread throughout and both the action and actors seem bored. This movie flicks to life in a few flashes which makes it watchable but it just never catches any momentum and in the end is quite forgettable.

From director Michael Laughlin(the underrated STRANGE INVADERS with Paul LeMat)and writer/producer Bill Condon(director of GODS AND MONSTERS), shot in New Zealand substituting a town in Illinois miles out of Chicago, comes this rather interesting mad-scientist "killer college kids" movie about how neurological experiments, which require volunteers(students wanting to make a couple hundred), could be linked to a series of sadistic knife stabbings; differing methods as to how they are performed leaves policeman John Brady(Michael Murphy;MANHATTAN)baffled to the point that he must call up Chicago for some assistance. Brady has a history with the scientist, Dr. Le Sangel(Arthur Dignam), whose work is the template used by Professor Gwen Parkinson(Fiona Lewis;DR. PHIBES RISES AGAIN)in conducting her behavioral experiments which includes a certain type of drug, a pill called PRL-B58, which supposedly awakens a part of the brain we don't normally use. In fact this drug in actuality allows Parkinson(or someone else maybe)to puppet human guinea pigs into committing homicides. Brady's boy, Pete(Dan Shor), is Parkinson's latest victim and might be used to kill his dad. Brady's wife died he believes at the will of Le Sangel for leaving the scientist and his research project. Brady and Le Sangel become mortal enemies, although it's believed the scientist was killed. With Louise Fletcher as Barbara Moorehead, Brady's love interest, Dey Young(the snobby saleswoman who hurts Julia Roberts' feelings in PRETTY WOMAN)as Pete's girlfriend, and Marc McClure(Jimmy Olsen in the SUPERMAN movies)as Pete's pal who convinces him to be involved in Parkinson's seemingly innocent experiment for $200. The knife murders are quite potent including one scene where a mother finds her son in the bathroom, his hand sliced off, the murderer(a robotic girl absent any free will of her own)returning to not only finish the job on him but pursues her as well. I think the cinematography(by Louis Horvath)and hypnotic Tangerine Dream score boost this rather cold thriller. Great cast that really never quite rises above the material for some reason..maybe they didn't receive the proper motivation because the performances come off as stiff and unconvincing. Michael Murphy has certainly been better than he is here. One of the few instances where the filmmakers attempt to "doll up" Louise Fletcher.

"Strange Behavior" is a bizarre slasher/mad scientist horror film with moody score by Tangerine Dream.John Brady,sheriff of the small town of Galseburg,investigates a series of incidents where teenagers have gone berserk and started killing people.At the same time Brady's son Pete tries seeks to earn money for university tuition by volunteering for a series of mind control experiments being run by Dr Gwen Parkinson at the university psychology department."Strange Behavior" is the first horror film that was actually shot in New Zealand.The direction by Michael Laughlin is flat and there are some dull and lifeless moments.Still there are also some nasty shocks including particularly brutal throat stabbing committed by the masked killer at party.If you liked "Strange Behavior" check out "Death Warmed Up" with its almost identical plot.7 out of 10