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.

Strange Behavior really is a strange film. It is haunting, disturbing and so easy to be drawn into even with it's faults.The acting is excellent by everyone. Even the young lead Dan Shor was talented enough to show a wide range of facial expressions that conveyed what he was feeling by the smallest expressions. Some of the gore is played out very slowly and is so very hard to watch. One scene is a man's worst nightmare in a way you may not think. But beyond the gore are the bizarre and odd scenes that sometimes come to an abrupt halt. My thinking is the editor didn't have as much to work with as he had hoped. Some scenes end hastily which adds to the mystery of what is going on.In contrast, many of the sets are bright white with a pearlescent or shiny surface, some pastel mixed in here and there in paint or neon. One thinks of the surface of candy or TV commercial cleanliness. Other scenes show the beauty of the unspoiled countryside, the lives of people here are simple and uncomplicated. And along comes horror, the result of some gruesome killings.It's hard to believe that this film has stayed under the radar so long. Horror fans will love this and hopefully more people will discover it. But, it isn't for everyone.

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.

SB is definitely not a reminder of the teen slasher/slasher runs loose at camp/sorority house serial killer films of the 80s. The violence is quite mild (with the possible exception of a certain bathroom scene), there's no mystery about who the killer is or why they're killing, and there's no gratuitous nudity. (In fact, I don't recall any nudity at all.) The plot, which revolves around the ability of mad scientist types to remotely control the behavior of teens and to make them commit murder, is hackneyed and dated even by the standards of the early 80s. The viewer is let in on the plot fairly early in the film. Combined with the low overall body count (and some inexplicable gaps in the storyline,) the film can be both boring and puzzling.Several well-known actors put in obligatory roles, but only Louise Fletcher seems embarrassed by her marginal and insignificant character. Fiona Lewis plays...well, Fiona Lewis. Charles Lane appears in the movie, but we're never sure exactly why. Dan Shor is a somewhat odd and inappropriate choice as the teen lead. He was 25 when the movie was made and while this is not uncommon in casting teens, he is not able to pull it off. Besides being a couple inches shorter than the romantic interest, he walks around like a zombie BEFORE he's zombified and his face makes him look like he's just come off a three-day bender. From the right angle, he'll remind you of William Katt, but with none of Katt's charm or boyish sense of humor.One distinctive touch to this movie is the odd little scene that serves as a coda. The scene does not really serve any purpose...there are no revelations...no suggestions that "the evil" will return...no surprises or shocks...no final resolution of the fate of Fiona Lewis's character. It's just filler stuck on the end.In spite of all the film's flaws, it is fairly well-made and the NZ scenery does stand in well for Illinois. Overall, it's quite competent, just not memorable.Strictly for those who enjoy such movies, as there is little else to recommend it other than the genre.