Strange Behavior (1981)

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

I can see why they changed the title...even for 1981, the 'Dead Kids' title (that I actually saw in the film's opening vs. 'Strange Behavior') seems a tad morbid.What a creepy early 80s horror film I never heard of before 2 hours ago. And strange, indeed. An almost dead-even half of the movie is solid with unique gore, thrills and cinematography while the other 50% is amateurish at best and contains plot holes wide enough to jump through.Immediately into the film we get our first kill. Extremely effective and original as in they try to shadow the killer - a staple of the never-ending Red Herring string of 70s/80s horror movies - only to turn around and reveal the killer. Not long after, the plot, or most of it, is fairly easy to grasp.Kids are disappearing at an alarming rate in a small town and the weirdest police "force" or what you would expect to be the police "force" in an Ed Wood/MST3k movie, sans an actual police uniform, are lazily putting the pieces together before the next murder takes place. Meanwhile, the scientific office from the also 80s-set 'Stranger Things' is taking new patients. Coincidence?Since some of the scenes are genuine and highly effective, I really want to grant this a higher rating. But, the movie starts to fall completely part in the last act almost to the point it felt like huge chunks were edited out for no reason. Not to mention it had an odd, out of place opening nude scene with the lead kid/teen (well, 25 in real life) and his dad and the ending felt rushed.But, it had the always awesome Louise Fletcher (even though she seemed lost on what her character was supposed to do or how to react,) a character named Peter Brady who was friends with Superman's Jimmy Olsen and a delicious femme fatal, Fiona Lewis, who stole every scene and you just couldn't take your eyes off her.Rare "gem" and despite my just-lower-than-average rating, I'd recommend it for diehard 80s horror fans, like myself.***Final thoughts: Man, I'd like to see this remade. Only, with a finished script, the title "Dead Kids" kept and more gritty - ah-hem, fleshed out.

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.

A couple of teens looking to grab a few extra bucks sign up to be experimented on by the scientists at the local university. Unfortunately, something strange is going on that will cost the lives of more than a few of the town's teens: The experiments are causing them to turn into violent killers! Though it starts out a bit shaky with one of the least thrilling death scenes ever, Strange Behavior quickly becomes one of the most entertaining and enjoyable slashers I've ever seen. Using a great blend of comedy and horror, Michael Laughlin creates a film that is quite tragically forgotten or overlooked when consulting the huge library of late 70s/early 80s horrors. There isn't much to complain about since almost everything is done surprisingly well. The writing & direction work very well, which results in a film that works on several different levels: horror, sci-fi, thriller, and comedy. The acting is pretty good for a teen film, not over-the-top or cheesy like one would expect, but still not great. There are a few good songs on the soundtrack from Lou Christie and Pop Mechanix. The conclusion is cool and a bit unexpected, though it seemed rather rushed. But, it all comes together to be a very, very watchable slasher. In the end, if this film sounds like it would be enjoyable. . . you will find it enjoyable. It's the kind of movie that was made for one thing: entertainment, and it succeeds. I'll now be checking in on the second installment of the failed trilogy: Strange Invaders. Unfortunately, the third installment was never produced. Never too late, Endeavour Productions (well, for you it is). *wink wink* Obligatory Slasher Elements:Violence/Gore: Well, there isn't much violence (most of it is off-screen), but there's some good gore. The 'smaller' gore scenes are done well, but some of the more extravagant ones aren't so great.Sex/Nudity: Sadly, no.Cool Killer(s): Yes, very. Because the experiments cause the OTHERS to be killers, it made it far more interesting.Scares/Suspense: There are some jump scares and some good tension (especially during the experiments), but it wasn't overly suspenseful.Mystery: Yeah, there is. . . origins of the medical facility & all that.Awkward Dance Scene: There is a totally rockin' costume party complete with an Adam West-style Batman and a tuxedo t-shirt. . . and all the great choreographed 80s moves none of us want to remember.Classic Quote of the Film: ''We're going to find the fat ones!" Final verdict: 8/10. See this slasher! -AP3-

Feel free to call me a sick and disturbed individual, but I have a weakness for horror movies in which the bloodthirsty murderers are young children and/or movies in which young kids are being killed off. So you can image, since one of the a.k.a title of this movie is "Dead Kids", I was very much intrigued and eager to trace it down. Browsing through the other user comments, it looks as if the film has quite a solid cult following and many fans even refer to it as a genuinely underrated and neglected gem of early 80's horror. Personally, I wouldn't go so far and call it that, but it definitely is a worthwhile sleeper, featuring several moments of effective creepiness, an overall sinister atmosphere and a handful of delightfully insane characters. Actually, the only thing that keeps me from rating "Strange Behavior" as a neglected gem myself is the rather mundane and unoriginal plot as well as the disappointing amount of explicit gore. The script – courtesy of Bill Condon ("Gods and Monsters") – contains a few ingenious ideas and neat touches, but it generally is a run-of-the-mill shocker about a mad scientist whose behaviorist experiments are causing the youthful guinea pigs to turn into sadistic & unaware murderers. "Strange Behavior" is set in a quiet little town near Chicago (although filmed in New Zealand), where four young citizens are brutally killed within a short period of time. The police remain clueless regarding the identity & motivation of the culprit(s), until inspector John Brady discovers that the local psychiatric center pays students in exchange for experimenting on them. Brady had unpleasant encounters with the eerie Dr. Le Sange in the past – and assumed he was dead – but the nightmare starts all over again, especially when his own son appears to be involved in the experiments. The finale is a tad bit predictable and déjà-vu, but the earlier killing sequences are extremely well staged and macabre. There also is an unforgettably unsettling syringe-in-the-eyeball sequence that made me feel uncomfortable for a second. Definitely the best shot in its type, along with the similar moment in – and that's a true gem – "Dead & Buried". The soundtrack is quite awesome and there's even room for a slight bit of black humor, provided by Charles Lane as the elderly cop. When the authorities finally receive a lead stating that a mildly obese young girl committed one of the murders, he goes to the local high school in order to collect the files of all the female students. When asked what they're for, he cheerfully replies: "We're gonna find the fat ones!" Priceless… "Strange Behavior" is a fun horror film that does deserve a little more appreciation, but the basic plot surely had more potential. Nonetheless, it's worth checking out.