Strange Behaviour (1981)

In a small Illinois town, Dan Shor is one of several local teens (including Jimmy Olsen himself, Marc McClure) who sign up for scientific experiments (run by sexy yet dangerous shrink Fiona Lewis) in exchange for cash, at the local college. Meanwhile, cop Michael Murphy, who also happens to be Shor’s dad, is investigating several strange, violent incidents around town. Hmmm, could there be any connection between the strange murders and these weirdo experiments? Louise Fletcher plays one of the parents, Aussie stalwart Arthur Dignam is a scientist, and Scott Brady is the visiting big-time Chicago copper.

This horror film from Michael Laughlin was apparently the first horror film made in New Zealand (here fronting for the American Midwest, and convincingly so). Shame it’s not much to crow about, though it’s not too baaaaad (Though that joke certainly was bad, my apologies), as a mixture of mad scientist pic and slasher film.

The problem is that with so many characters around, it becomes hard to follow, and even harder to care, it’s awfully dull and painfully slow to start. I just didn’t care about any of these people, an A-grade cast couldn’t have even improved things if you ask me. This one just never really got off the ground. The best thing are the gore scenes (notably a bit involving a grisly body in a bathtub), that are quite convincing despite the low-budget, and despite the fact that they don’t quite mesh with the non-slasher elements in the story.

Fletcher has barely a cameo (and is badly miscast, if you ask me) and McClure is really only in the first half of the film. Dignam is easily the best actor in the film, while Brady comes off rather well too, and Lewis is astonishingly sexy (zero acting ability, though!). Terrible Tangerine Dream score, full of the beeps and boops and other ear-splitting electro sounds that irritate the hell out of me.

OVERALL SUMMARY
This film has its moments, and there’s something good in here, it just never comes together as an entertaining whole.