Review: Disturbing Behavior

Text © Richard Gary / Indie Horror Films, 2023
Images from the Internet

Disturbing Behavior
Directed by David Nutter
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; Hoyts Partnership; Beacon Communications; Behavioral Problems Productions; Village Roadshow Pictures; MVD Rewind Collection
84 minutes, 1998 / 2022
www.MGM.com
www.MVDvisual.com

Yeah, I know, with a $15 million budget, this is hardly indie filmmaking, especially with the relatively top-tier talent behind it. But it is a cool film that is now being released in High Definition (1080p), so here we go.

Controlling and adapting human behavior in cinema is usually done with aliens or demons possessing a body, such as in The Faculty (1998) and Fallen (1998). But there is also a genre of scientific experimentation to achieve the “perfect” person, be it Captain America (pick a film, any film), The Stepford Wives (1975) or even as recently as Get Out (2017).

Nick Stahl, Katie Holmes, James Marsden

In the Island town of Cradle Bay, WA (filmed on beautiful Bowen Island in British Columbia, a place I have vacationed). Things are going weird. Long-haired, pot-smoking, wild child Gavin (Nick Stahl) has witnessed a homicide by a member of the High School’s Blue Ribbon Club of another free-spirited woman; you can tell by the Devo tattoo on her ankle).

Into this mess, comes newcomer (there’s always a newcomer in high school dramas) and the film’s main protagonist, Steve (James Marsden, who was 25 when this film about high school was made, and looks every year of it) and his sister, Lindsay (a young Katherine Isabelle, who would go on to star the now horror touchstones, Ginger Snaps in 2000, and American Mary in 2012).

The Blue Ribbons

As with most schools, there are factions, like the nerds, the metal heads, and the stoners. When I went to high school, I was at the table of wimpy kids that nobody really bothered with because the factions in my Brooklyn school were more racially divided. But I digress… One of the groups is the aforementioned Blue Ribbon club, named because these were the “good” kids who all wear similar blue jackets. They look and act like jocks, but there is something creepy about them.

Into this pool comes Steve, a typical overage cinematic teenager with some parental issues, but not really a shit-stirrer, but not easily cow-towed, either. He’s not like, say, Richard (Tygh Runyan), who is a trouble maker and fights against authority (you know, sideburns, leather jacket, smokes and calls teachers “peckerhead” one day, and is a Blue Ribbon the next.

But there is definitely something off about the Blue Ribbons. Whenever they feel lust (remember high school?), their eye glows red and they become ultra-violent, because they are being “bad.” They are a tightly insulated group who react negatively and often violently to anyone who is not in their “club” (hence, Devo girl). Their clique is run by the obviously villainous school Edgar Caldicott (Bruce Greenwood).

Bruce Greenwood, Marsden

Thrown into all this mishigas, with the help of resident philosopher and loose cannon Gavin, Steve meets “town trash” Rachel (Katie Holmes looking her best, even with that weird crooked smile), who is Gavin’s friend. The three bond while Gavin understandably lusts after one of the Blue Ribbons, Lorna (Crystal Cass, in her only film role).

Perhaps it was the sign of the times, but I find it interesting that when the male Blue Ribbons get horny, they instantly act violent outwardly and damage anyone around them (as is seen in a supermarket melee, but when the females get turned on, the first reaction is to self-harm. I would really like to question the writer of this film about that.

Chad Donella, Marsden

Meanwhile, it’s up to Steve, Rachel, albino stoner/drug dealer and comic relief U.V. (Chad Donella, who has some of the best lines in the film) who is sort of a more mellow Spicoli, from 1982’s Fast Times at Ridgemont High), and coming out of left field with a cinematic device that can be predicted a long time on, custodian, Andy Newberry (Nick Stahl), to save the world… well, at least Cradle Bay High School from the likes of Dr. Caldicott and police officer Cox (Steve Railsback in an underused role). You know the showdown is coming in the third act as some of our top cast is up for being the new Blue Ribbons. While I am sure it will be exciting ( am nearing the end of Act 2, as I write this), the means that will change the battlefront power is already obvious.

Extra! Extra! That’s what this Blu-ray has!! The biggie is the full commentary by the director, David Nutter. Typical of most, Nutter (who also directed the “X-Files”) describes the process, what scenes mean, hiring and working with the actors, etc. He’s a bit monotone, but never flat as he keeps the focus to keep this worth watching.

Crystal Cass (center)

The Deleted Scenes part is actually quite extensive and worth the watch. They are not just clips, but some of the 11 are enlightening, especially the one with Steve’s mother, which explains an important motivating action later on. And most enjoyable was the last, which was the original ending of the film (both work). The viewer can choose to watch these as they are, or with a commentary by Director David Nutter. Along with audio options of English and French 2.0 Stereo and optional English and French subtitles, the rest of the digital end is the original theatrical trailer among other coming attractions. On the physical end is reversible cover artwork, collectible mini-poster, and limited-edition slipcover for the first pressing only.

Now do not get me wrong. This is a hell of a fun joy ride of a film, right through. It has aged a bit though, but still fits into the whole teenage paranoia scenario to a tee; however, it is an early example of a formula that has been used and reused many times since. As I said, the 3 Act is action packed albeit predictable, and I had a lot of fun with it. Hell, it has been 20 years since I first saw it, and I will probably see it again without that much of a time span.

There’s a really nice coda at the end that’s, again, obvious, but still made me smile. If this was to come out now, they would probably have put it after the credits.

IMDB listing HERE