Previously posted on blog and written by S. Kess
Some Australian saw “Halloween” and thought “golly, that Illinois sure is scary!” and decided to set a horror film there but film it in New Zealand. Ok, I admit, Illinois is terrifying, but the Australians were never supposed to know! Even descriptions of the film put “Illinois” in quotes because it is so totally not Illinois (woo 80’s!). Abe Lincoln is nowhere to be seen.
“Strange Behavior” is from 1981 and was also known as “Dead Kids” and boy howdy that works even if “Dead Teens” would be more accurate. Not as many dead teens as other movies, but enough to earn the name. It is an interesting film as it sets you up to expect a slasher (and it kind of is) but there’s more under the surface as there is a bit of science brewing. The film starts out with Pete, a kid who wants to go to college locally but his father, John, refuses. John insists Pete leave the area for an East Coast school, refusing to pay for an application to the local school. Pete decides to make money to pay for his own application and his buddy Oliver takes him to the University medical lab to get a job as a test subject. Meanwhile, John, who is also the sheriff, is looking into the disappearance of teens. Roughly the first half is a fairly standard slasher flick with one very noteworthy scene. “Strange Behavior” becomes the most on the nose name for a film in history when we reach the Halloween dance party. It is glorious insanity as they breakdown and very obviously dance for the camera. I really wish the parties I went to were like this, sans the outbreak of murder. I can’t even describe it, so just enjoy:
Batman’s costume is hilarious and has the girdle Adam West always dreamed of! That party is just too much and I love it, especially the music which is so far up my alley. Unlike most horror flicks, the bulk of the killing is done early and then it shifts from being a slasher to focusing on the sci-fi elements becoming something akin to a 50’s “mad science” horror film. This is a really weird tonal shift but gives the movie its own flavor as it moves from a bit of a comedic tone with lots of blood to something slower and more thoughtful. While the pace does slow down here there is enough intrigue to keep its hooks in you. From then on, the film is a mystery that unravels at its own pace which is worth seeing through to the end. Along the way, there are so many wonderfully insane moments including: Kills that are super slow, lack impact, and have the gentlest sound effects around. A stabbing sounds like a light blast from a trouser trumpet. The father is in the bathroom shaving and his older teenage son just walks in butt-ass naked. The father trims his toenails at the kitchen table during breakfast and ever clip sounds like a freaking shotgun, the Doomslayer would be proud.
The sound effects in general have no idea how loud they are supposed to be.
The housekeeper walks in and starts talking to father and son and turns to the sink and as she talks they both just walk out without a word and then she starts talking about an orgy at the neighbor’s house.
This exchange: “There they are, 2,000 girls, may I ask what you’re going to do with them?” and the old guy replies “We’re going to find the fat ones!” This was said in a voice like Jon Lovitz doing an old-timey radio host.
Pretty sure there is only one police uniform in the film and it is just on a cop at a diner and not the ones who are characters. A teacher just starts riffing on students with insult comedy because of their papers. A gloriously creepy fucker teaches a science course via videotape from BEYOND THE GRAVE! Pete wakes up from an experiment with his hand in his pants. All this and so much more!
“Strange Behavior” isn’t a perfect film but there are plenty enough reasons to watch; the story, the music, and the silly shit all around. It doesn’t hurt that the acting and directing are solid, so it all adds up to a fun, though unremarkable, film.
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