Disturbing Behavior Review
by J.K. Salisbury (jksalisbury AT my-dejanews DOT com)September 13th, 1998
I should learn to be a bit more leary, and a bit less curious when it comes to my cinematic choices. When I was looking through the paper, to see the movie times for Disturbing Behavior, a disturbing fact came to light. The running time of the movie was a paltry 84 minutes. Barely longer than an episode of the X-Files. Knowing the basic plot for this movie, I was a bit curious as to how they could develop characters, and a plot, and then give sufficient supporting story, and an effective conclusion. But being open minded, and full of wonder, I proceeded ahead. I should've heeded the signs.
While this is not the worst movie that I've seen this summer (Godzilla and Armageddon are still "Kings of the Summer" in that category)..this movie does have it's problems. It was directed by David Nutter, heretofore, an X-Files episode director, and the plot rings of a decent, but not totally compelling episode of the show. The recipe ingredients start with a mysteriously zombie like group of "perfect teens" in a small town. Add in the token outsider, token love interest/rebel/pretty face, a token chilly bad guy,token mysterious figure, introduced only to fit the conclusion together and a cliché-filled predictable story. (the sight of feet walking, to build suspense and mystery only works, when the result is a shock, it never is here, yet the filmmakers feel the need to drill this premise into the ground, after a while, I begin saying, to myself, who it was, trying to gain some fun from this), blend in some hip, pop culture references (the best of these being the visualization of Pink Floyd's rebellious cry from Another Brick In The Wall), Sprinkle in a hip, alternative filled soundtrack and teenage eye candy, to draw in the adolescent viewers (the obvious desired demographic here) and In a nutshell, that's the movie. You see everything that's coming, you are compelled to watch, trudging through a slow, tension building development, given hints of deeper meanings, which are never delved on any further, or even explained, and then, like a TV series, given a quick, predictable, clean, conclusion, with a tease to "Tune in next week".
It is too bad that this movie doesn't work. The premise was truly interesting. The 1975 cult classic Stepford Wives, was ripe for retouching, with the right 90s flair. Mind control, desired perfection, in the right hands, this could've been a chilling social commentary on parental, and peer pressure for perfection. Instead, this is a rushed, forced, predictable mess. The movie starts with promise, in an introspective, interesting and compelling opening scene, the newcomer Marsden, is given a social "tour" of the school by Gavin (The Man Without A Face's Nick Stahl). This scene shows the movie's potential, a struggle to make the perfect class, and the pool of "others" from whom there is to choose. The pace and presentation of the movie are compelling, and intruiging enough to keep you watching (admittedly, I was not bored, and did keep watching with interest, I liked about the first 10-20 minutes of this). But once the hand is tipped, like that *snap*, it's gone. All wrapped up in a nice, sensible, predictable, very sloppily and hastily delivered finale. The performances are faceless, nameless even. Marsden and Katie Dawson, both adolescent eye candy, are sure to raise the hormone levels of their respective age-groups. However, they serve as no more than puppeteered window dressing. Bruce Greenwood (an Atom Egoyan favorite) serves only to create tension, and an evil, chilling presence (want a better view of this aspect of him, see The Sweet Hereafter). William Sadler is usually a watchably maniacally character actor, here, he also seems only to be filling a position, and never really flexes his known ability although he, and Stahl do give the movie at least some watchability. Each character has a purpose, but is underdeveloped, we don't understand them, and really don't care.
I felt very cheated by this movie. The ads showed so much promise, the beginning teased and hinted of so much more, and then, wham, bam, nothing. I sat and stared at the screen, along with a few others, in disbelief of what had just been done to us. We all wanted more. David Nutter must be an effective television director, to get this chance to make this movie. Someone needs to tell him that his chances, and possibilities, increase proportionally, as the size of the viewing screen does. Wait for this one on late night cable. ________________________________________________ See more of my reviews at http://www.angelfire.com/ks/nearside/comingatt.html
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