IMDb 5.6 1981 HD

Strange Behavior

Strange Behavior

1981
Horror Mystery Science Fiction
99 min R NZ
5.5 / 10
5.6 IMDB

When the teenagers in a small Illinois town start getting murdered, the police chief makes a connection to the mysterious scientific experiments being done at the local university…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Michael Laughlin / Murray Newey / Mark Jaffee / Cathy Anderson / Jackie Sullivan
Starring
Michael Murphy / Louise Fletcher / Dan Shor / Fiona Lewis / Arthur Dignam / Dey Young / Marc McClure / Scott Brady

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

unsettling intriguing suspenseful mysterious atmospheric thoughtful disappointing compelling tense unique dark

Reviews

G
Genevieve Bell
May 23, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

In 'Strange Behavior', director [Unknown] crafts a narrative that leans heavily on its intriguing plot concerning a small town gripped by murder and linked to university experiments. Michael Murphy leads the charge as the determined chief, his performance…

J
Julian Croft
May 23, 2026
2.5 / 5
2.5

While 'Strange Behavior' boasts an intriguing setup involving murders and clandestine scientific activities, its execution proves somewhat disappointing. The premise of a police chief uncovering a conspiracy at a local university is ripe for suspense, and Michael Murphy…

P
Penelope Davies
May 23, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

A standout for its intelligent premise, 'Strange Behavior' is a 1981 gem that deserves rediscovery. The narrative, driven by a police chief’s dogged pursuit of truth behind a string of murders and disturbing university research, grips the viewer…

M
Marcus Thorne
May 23, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

'Strange Behavior' attempts a more cerebral horror, weaving a narrative of murder and scientific intrigue in an Illinois town. The plot, concerning a police chief’s investigation into campus experiments linked to teen deaths, promises a unique blend of…

E
Eleanor Vance
May 23, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

The 1981 chiller 'Strange Behavior' offers a compelling, if somewhat uneven, descent into small-town terror. Michael Murphy anchors the film as a determined police chief investigating a spate of teenage murders, a mystery that leads him to uncover…

FAQs

The scientific experiments in 'Strange Behavior' become the focal point of the film's dread due to their apparent connection to a series of teenage murders. The implication is that these experiments are not benign, but rather have unleashed or are directly responsible for the deadly events plaguing the town. This element introduces a layer of intellectual horror, questioning the ethics and consequences of unchecked scientific pursuit and its potential for catastrophic human cost.