Dead Kids (1981) (Blu-ray/DVD Review)
Directed By: Michael Laughlin
Starring: Michael Murphy, Louise Fletcher, Dan Shor
Rated: R/Region A/2:35/1080p/Number of Discs 2
Available from Severin Films
The Ozploitation classic and one of the most unique shockers of the 80s returns like never before: Michael Murphy, Dan Shor and Fiona Lewis star in this grisly saga of bizarre experiments, butchered teens, New Zealand doubling for suburban Illinois, and a killer in a Tor Johnson mask. Dey Young, Marc McClure, Scott Brady and Academy Award® winner Louise Fletcher co-star in this cult favorite released in America as STRANGE BEHAVIOR featuring a hypnotic score by Tangerine Dream, co-written by the Oscar®-winning director of CHICAGO, directed by the producer of TWO LANE BLACKTOP, now loaded with Extras and transferred in HD from the original negative for the first time ever.
This is a film that came out in the year 1981 and is mostly known under it’s other name, Strange Behavior. And rest a sure if there was a year for horror films it was 1981. And I could see how it could have been a little lost in the fold back then. Now, having seen it for the second time, I can see where this film not only used some pretty famous influences but may have became one it self for films down the road. I can see with the camera work that Halloween and director Dario Argento had to be things that director Michael Laughlin enjoyed. And when you see the masked killer in this film running around slashing you can see where Wes Craven may have been influenced years later with his classic, Scream. So while it is slow at times, you do have things worth remembering and talking about here. It is also a film I liked much better the second time around. There are some very eerie and tension filled moments I can appreciate.
The only real negative about this film (and it’s opinion only, some may not mind) is the pace and the abrupt ending. When this movie wraps you wait for another foot to drop and it never does. That leads to it coming across just a bit awkward. But like I said, some may still love that. I did dig some of the films scenes that make you squirm, like scenes involving an eye. I also think it builds up some great drama filled moments from time to time. And that along with a couple of cool twists make the film really pickup and get you interested during it’s last portion. It’s here that the film becomes much more clever than just your average run of the mil horror films of the 80s. The transfer is a little mixed, but leaning towards the good. There are more moments of clear than soft, but there are some odd moments where whites seem to glow. Taking those moments out, it is a far better than worse transfer overall.
– Audio Commentary With Director/Co-Writer Michael Laughlin
– Audio Commentary With Co-Writer/Associate Producer Bill Condon and Actors Dan Shor & Dey Young
– Featurette: The Effects Of Strange Behavior – An Interview With Makeup Effects Artist Craig Reardon
– US Trailer
– International Trailer
