STRANGE BEHAVIOR (1981)
aka DEAD KIDS Directed by Michael Laughlin
Elite Entertainment DVD
THE FILM
Lou Christie's "Lightning Strikes" blasts at a teenage costume party. The kids flaunt cut-rate outfits from 60s sitcoms. They just wanna dance. In fact, they want YOU to dance. When Strange Behavior steps into the DJ booth, you've got no choice.
Stick with me. Let's say Robert Altman, inspired by the recent slashermania glut of 1978-80, decided to take a shot at one. He consulted with Kubrick during a coffee break on the set of The Shining. Stanley said, "Add some sparse, yet stylish laboratories." Raring to go, Altman checked with John Carpenter, who added his two bits; "Show lots of hands doing things...and don't forget the POVs!" A magic wand was waved. Strange Behavior appeared. Everybody danced.
Strange Behavior aka Dead Kids (original shooting title) is an expansive semi-slasher, focusing on a rash of mysterious murders in a small Illinois town and bolstered with warm, open ambiance. Characters are fully-fleshed out. Tone and plot meander and weave, but always keep you glued. The photography is often stunning. Unfortunately, all of that richness has to go somewhere. As the film's ego grows bigger, our expectations follow close behind. Expectancy can be a real bitch.
Welcome to Galesberg, Illinois. Top cop John Brady (Michael Murphy, Woody Allen's Manhattan and Robert Altman vet) and his son, Pete (Dan Shor), are gearing up for The College Years. John's stressed. The town's higher-ups are finding their kids riddled with knife holes. Thanks to a little father-son friction, Pete volunteers for Strange Behavioral tests at the local University. Murders continue. An ancient deputy provides comic relief involving fat girls. The University holds more secrets than Pop Brady is willing to admit. Two mad doctors. One Tor Johnson mask. A woman that looks like Ursa from Superman II. Obviously, small towns do it better.
Shot in New Zealand for a cool million, the enigmatic Strange Behavior does what it wants and won't listen to reason. For the most part, that's a great thing. Like Happy Birthday To Me from the same year, this is an epic, polished slasher with a propulsive ensemble cast. It shocks you in all the right spots (anybody up for some bloody piss?), lays on a thick slab of generic pop courtesy Tangerine Dream, and keeps the tension taught. However, unlike Happy Birthday, Behavior clumsily switches gears just as your pulse hits a record beat. That's not such a great thing. Slasher bliss suddenly morphs into derivative sci-fi tedium. After that, the hotshot development is lost and the film abruptly ends. Shoulder shrugs begin. The dancefloor clears.
Remember Lou Christie's earlier hit, "Two Faces Have I"? Somebody needs to slap that sucker on the turntable. Pronto.
AUDIO AND VIDEO
Strange Behavior has always looked terrible on VHS; cropped, dark, and goofy. This anamorphic widescreen print in the film's original 2.35:1 aspect ratio clears things up considerably. Basically, the DVD looks terrific. Colors are early 80s perfection. Damage is nonexistent. Ditto with the mono sound. I think you get the idea. An optional Spanish soundtrack is also available, as well as an isolated music score.
EXTRAS
The supplements aren't bursting with brilliance, but what's here is just fine by me. An upbeat, full length commentary track acts as a centerpiece. Co-writer Bill Condon (he'd go onto direct Gods And Monsters and Kinsey), actor Dan Shor, and actress Dey Young (Pete's girlfriend) kick back and chat about good times and fond memories. Everybody's in a great mood, so the talk is consistently flooded with facts and recollections. The track loses steam around the 50 minute mark, but perks up when Ms. Young asks, "Bill, have you ever thought about directing?" Ouch. Overall, a brisk and fun listen.
Also included are two vastly different theatrical trailers for the feature (one as Strange Behavior and one as Dead Kids), theatrical trailers for Patrick, Thirst, and Syngenor, two brief deleted scenes with Bill Condon commentary, a lengthy photo gallery, and twelve filmographies for the film's key players.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Half-slashers make me feel half-good. At the end of the night, Strange Behavior's competency lingers, but the pay-off doesn't. Maybe they needed more fat jokes.
— Joseph A. Ziemba, 06.22.06 | 
I loved college
Love for sale
Phenomenal
Crud sink
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