Strange Behavior (1981)

Director:

Michael Laughlin

Writers:

Bill Condon (writer)
Michael Laughlin (writer)

Release Date:

17 June 1982 (Australia)

Genre:

Thriller | Horror | Mystery

Tagline:

Cuts up parts other movies just dislocate

Plot:

A scientist is experimenting with teenagers and turning them into murderers. |

Plot Keywords:

Slasher | Child Murder | Hypodermic Needle | Child Murder Investigation | Bloody Body Of Child

Cast

Michael Murphy	...	John Brady
Louise Fletcher	...	Barbara Moorehead
Dan Shor	...	Pete Brady
Fiona Lewis	...	Gwen Parkinson
Arthur Dignam	...	Dr. Le Sangel / Nagel
Dey Young	...	Caroline
Marc McClure	...	Oliver Myerhoff
Scott Brady	...	Shea
Charles Lane	...	Donovan
Elizabeth Cheshire	...	Lucy Brown
Beryl Te Wiata	...	Mrs. Haskell
Jim Boelsen	...	Waldo
Billy Al Bengston	...	Felix Rowe
Nicole Anderson	...	Flying Nun
Bill Condon	...	Bryan Morgan

Also Known As:

Dead Kids (Australia) (USA) (video title)
Human Experiments (UK) (reissue title)
Shadowlands (New Zealand: English title) (working title)
Small Town Massacre
Strange Behaviour (UK) (DVD box title)

Runtime:

New Zealand:105 min | USA:87 min | USA:99 min (DVD)

Country:

Australia | USA | New Zealand

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Germany:16 | Australia:M | New Zealand:R16 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Avondale College, Victor Street, Avondale, Auckland, New Zealand

Company:

Bannon Glen

Trivia:

Klaus Kinski turned down the role of Dr Le Sangel.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation! (2008)

Soundtrack:

Jumping out a Window

A gripping, effective and stylish chiller!

I first saw this inventive and well-produced thriller in the mid-nineties via a full-screen Rhino Video cassette I bought--this is not a film that is easy to find in most video stores (I currently have it on DVD and, I must say, it is like a new film, immaculate and widescreen in all of its Panavision glory). Well, when I saw this deliciously tongue-in-cheek flick, I fell in love with it instantly. The direction by Michael Laughlin was tight and effective; Bill Condon's script was clever, funny and twisty; Louis Horvath's provocative and incredibly colorful cinematography was impressive; the Tangerine Dream score was stunning and dream-like; and, in the lead, Michael Murphy, towering and unforgettable, was both brilliantly subtle and medium cool, as well as intense and humanly believable. Along with fine supporting turns from Louis Fletcher, Fiona Lewis, Arthur Dignam, Scott Brady and Charles Lane, the whole film is quite satisfying.

It's hard to describe this film in a few short, concise words, so I choose to say that "Strange Behavior" is like "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" meets "Halloween" meets "Blue Velvet." It's an atmospheric, genre-busting, deliciously quirky slice of cinematic cleverness. A must for genuine horror film enthusiasts.