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Disturbing Behavior

Disturbing Behavior

  • Status: Released
  • 24-07-1998
  • Runtime: 84 min
  • Score: 5.8
  • Vote count: 384

Steve Clark is a newcomer in the town of Cradle Bay, and he quickly realizes that there's something odd about his high school classmates. The clique known as the "Blue Ribbons" are the eerie embodiment of academic excellence and clean living. But, like the rest of the town, they're a little too perfect. When Steve's rebellious friend Gavin mysteriously joins their ranks, Steve searches for the truth with fellow misfit Rachel.

James Marsden

Steve Clark

Katie Holmes

Rachel Wagner

Nick Stahl

Gavin Strick

Bruce Greenwood

Dr. Edgar Caldicott

William Sadler

Newberry

Chad Donella

U.V.

Katharine Isabelle

Lindsay Clark

Tobias Mehler

Andy

Steve Railsback

Officer Cox

Terry David Mulligan

Mr. Clark

Susan Hogan

Mrs. Clark

A.J. Buckley

Charles 'Chug' Roman

Derek Hamilton

Trent

Tygh Runyan

Dickie Atkinson

Crystal Cass

Lorna

Ethan Embry

Allen Clark

Stephen E. Miller

Frankie

Natassia Malthe

Mary Jo Copeland

Doug Abrahams

Security Guard

Robert Moloney

Ferry Guy

Dan Zukovic

Mr. Rooney

David Paetkau

Tom Cox

Jay Brazeau

Principal Weathers

Sarah-Jane Redmond

Miss Perkins

Gillian Barber

Judy Effkin

Peter LaCroix

Mr. Strick

Lynda Boyd

Mrs. Strick

Daniella Evangelista

Daniella

Carly Pope

Abbey

Lalainia Lindbjerg

Kathy

Erin Tougas

Shannon

Ryan Taylor

Ryan - Blue Ribbon

Brendan Fehr

Brendan - Motor Jock

John Destry

Middle-Aged Man

Glynis Davies

Coupon Lady

Andre Danyliu

Roscoe

Stephen J. Lang

John (as Stephen James Lang)

Suzy Joachim

Female Doctor

Christopher R. Sumpton

Screaming Man

Jarred Blancard

Flossing Man

Kate Braidwood

Make-up Girl

Stephen Holmes

Toothbrush Boy

Mark Aviss

Bald Man

Julie Patzwald

Betty Caldicott

Dee Jay Jackson

Assistant Principal

Kendall Saunders

Disrespectful Student

Sean Amsing

Damon (uncredited)

Melanie Angel

Nurse (uncredited)

Christina de Cattani

Laughing Blonde Girl (uncredited)

Fulvio Cecere

Anesthesiologist (uncredited)

Garry Chalk

Coach (uncredited)

Cynde Harmon

Mrs. Atkinson (uncredited)

Tamsin Kelsey

Detrice (uncredited)

Corey Large

Student (uncredited)

Robert Lewis

Moderator (uncredited)

Zuzana Marlow

Shannon's Mother (uncredited)

Judith Maxie

Shadow Woman (uncredited)

Bob Wilde

Shadow Man (uncredited)

Bailee Reid

Chera - Blue Ribbon (uncredited)

Sean Smith

Schoolbus Boy (uncredited)

Clarence Sponagle

Nurses Assistant (uncredited)

Wuchak

***The Stepford Teens, sort of*** When a Chicago family moves to an island in the Puget Sound, Washington, Steve (James Marsden) encounters the usual cliques at his new high school, but there’s something odd about the Blue Ribbon Club, a circle of high-achieving students who get a pass from the police when they screw-up. Nick Stahl plays Steve’s new friend, Katie Holmes a potential girlfriend and Katharine Isabelle his sister. Bruce Greenwood is on hand as a dubious school psychologist. The set-up of “Disturbing Behavior” (1998) is similar to the same in “Twilight” (2008), but there are no vampires and werewolves. I won’t say more about the plot, except that it includes elements of Dr. Frankenstein and “The Stepford Wives” (1975). This isn’t really giving much away as the movie telegraphs everything from the get-go and so is kind of predictable. Yet the Great Northwest locations are spectacular, the cast is good, particularly Marsden and Stahl, and the story is compelling enough. It’s just laden by a been-there, done-that vibe. Still, it’s way superior to the similar “The Faculty” (1998), not to mention more serious. It’s also arguably better than comparable flicks from the time period, like “Scream” (1996), “I Know What You Did Last Summer” (1997), “I Still Know What You Did Last Summer” (1998), “Urban Legend” (1998), “Jawbreaker” (1999) and “Final Destination” (2000). “Bad Girls from Valley High” is on par (which was shot in 1999, but not released until 2005). The original length was 115 minutes, about 32 minutes longer than the released version, but producers found it too long and so cut out scenes that supposedly helped the movie to make more sense. Personally, I didn’t feel the movie was hard to grasp and never felt lost. But the last act needed more finesse because it does seem awkward and rushed; for instance, the mental hospital sequence flashes by so quickly you might miss it if you blink. The film runs 1 hour, 23 minutes, and was shot in the Vancouver area, British Columbia, including Bowen Island. GRADE: B