“DISTURBING BEHAVIOR” (Blu-ray Review)

While the ‘90s might be known as a (undeservedly) derided era in the genre’s history, there’s no denying just how odd the ‘90s were in retrospect. Of all the horror films that are indicative of the style and execution of ‘90s horror, few genre flicks painted ‘90s pop culture better than David Nutter’s DISTURBING BEHAVIOR. And as a film that’s certainly gained traction as of late thanks to Netflix and, now, Scream Factory’s Blu-ray release, it’s certainly going to be interesting to see how DISTURBING BEHAVIOR plays among a new generation of fright fans.

In essence, DISTURBING BEHAVIOR plays like a teenage spin on THE STEPFORD WIVES, if you traded in the perfect domestic partner for the rich preps that seemingly served as antagonists from every film between 1985 to 2000. At the same time, DISTURBING BEHAVIOR features all the trademarks of ‘90s cinema: goths as misunderstood social outliers, eccentric albino characters, service industry figures who double as vigilantes and small town conspiracies. Mix in some alternative rock (close to metal and grunge without explicitly being either), obvious studio re-tooling and the occasional reliably dodgy special effects and you’ve got the perfect storm of ‘90s genre cinema in DISTURBING BEHAVIOR.

Although there’s an inherent charm to DISTURBING BEHAVIOR and the film is quite competent on a technical level, the film doesn’t quite live up to its full potential, largely because the film pulls many of its most macabre punches. Outside of a couple excellent horror moments (one of which involves a pick-up truck filled with teenagers), DISTURBING BEHAVIOR rarely feels extraordinary as any goodwill brought on by moments of eccentricity and originality are often contradicted by paint-by-number thrills and generic plot points. And despite some strong performances around the horn, DISTURBING BEHAVIOR’s identity crisis keeps it from truly being the bizarre, brutal film it flirts with becoming.

However, if you’re one of the horrorheads who are firmly in the DISTURBING BEHAVIOR camp, the good news is that Scream Factory offers a worthwhile release with this disc. The HD video transfer is impressive, offering the best looking picture DISTURBING BEHAVIOR has sported to date while retaining the natural cinematography of the film. The audio is also very strong, with the 5.1 audio treatment to give those with immersive home theater set-ups more bang for their buck.

Scream Factory also does right by DISTURBING BEHAVIOR’s fans with this package, porting over some worthwhile extras that will more than satisfy those expecting a barebones studio release. Of course, the most fascinating extra on the set is the deleted scenes which include the alternate ending that recontextualizes Nick Stahl’s role in the film, offering a heroic moment to a character that honestly deserves it most. The disc also comes an informative audio commentary from David Nutter as well as the film’s theatrical trailer.

Overall, with this new HD release of DISTURBING BEHAVIOR, not only with the film’s cult audience have a Blu-ray to stand by, but newfound fans can check out this odd time capsule of ‘90s terror with extras they couldn’t find on a streaming service. Scream Factory once again pulls out a strong release for a notable horror offering of yesteryear, and although those who don’t like the film won’t necessarily find new reasons for doubt, this release aims to please those who’ve already enjoyed their previous stays in Cradle Bay.