Strange Behavior (1981)

I like the storyline of this show,it attract me so much

Thanks for the memories!

Simply Perfect

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

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.

FINALLY, a passable horror. Although, I'll remember it more for a stunning I Dream Of Jeannie costume in the fancy dress party scene, than for the actual content. Also, I have no idea why this is rated 18 since the murders are more comical than gruesome, and the most horrific thing on displays are the bad 80's hairdos.Still, Fiona Lewis's performance as the most ruthless female medical worker since Nurse Ratched from One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest is noteworthy (Oddly enough, the woman who played Nurse Ratched, Louise Fletcher, pops up here in a completely different role) and there is a nice little twist near the end.Alas, the unrealistic stabbings and the presence of breathing corpses prevent it from ever being scary, and the tactic of renaming it DEAD KIDS in the UK just reeks of desperation.It's perfectly watchable,and miles better than some of the dross I've seen of this genre recently, but my wait for a truly good horror this year goes on

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.

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-