There are many ways to think of the teenage horror film: one is as cinematic atrocity; another is as good old fashioned base entertainment. Director David Nutter (television's X-Files) and writer Scott Rosenberg (Con Air) have whittled another stinky gem to add to the adolescent shocker block.
When Steve (James Marsden) moves to Cradle Bay, he's already got family issues. If being the new kid isn't enough, local delinquent Gavin (Nick Stahl) and his freaky friend theorise that the community's kids are being reprogrammed into model sons and daughters. His assumption is spawned when he witnesses a brutal double murder to which the police turn a blind eye. Incidentally, the best of the worst lines are spawned from this encounter: "Self-mutilate this, fluid boy." As Gavin tries to make Steve see the conspiracy, he introduces us to the janitor who has "the whole Boo Radley-village idiot-Quasimodo thing going on" and to the new generation of Stepford Wives, the 'Blue Ribbons'. We're also treated to an excursion to a mental institute, complete with blood and screaming.
When I was growing up, we'd rent as many horror movies as possible; there were never enough. Disturbing Behavior isn't so bad for what its target audience expects: teenage romance, adolescent rebellion, parents who don't understand, mild violence, and rip-offs from great movies like Clockwork Orange and Scream. If I were 15 with the opportunity to see my idols in a movie, would I pass it up? No way. That said, I'm not 15 and I didn't enjoy Disturbing Behavior. It's unoriginal, unfunny and panders to the lowest common denominator. Katie Holmes's bad girl is too good to be sexy, Marsden is too fluffy to be interesting, and Stahl is canned too early.
However, if you're just planning on a make-out session with your special friend Friday night then go ahead and rent Disturbing Behavior.
