Jacob B
Disturbing, as the Europeans spell it, BehavioUr, is honestly not that bad. The deleted scenes certainly enhance the narrative, meaning that I can understand why the final film's shortcomings might stand out more, but given all the drama surrounding this film, I was expecting something more incoherent in the theatrical cut. To think that this film's director was seriously considering going by the Alan Smithee pseudonym before deciding against it so as not to come off as throwing his cast and crew under the bus. I will admit there are a few moments that definitely require the context of the deleted scenes to understand the reasons for some of the plot progression and the alternate ending is arguably a more fitting climax than the awkward final battle in the finished film. I will also admit that the deleted scenes aren't completely flawless given how quickly our two leads find themselves in a sex scene that clearly DEMANDED to be in director David Nutter's sabotaged masterpiece. And yet, I still enjoyed this X-Files-influenced film. Convincing performances from its young cast, an intriguing story, a moody atmosphere, admirable attempts at approaching thought-provoking themes about individuality versus conformity, I liked the janitor/exterminator character and a memorable score from Mark Snow. When I heard the opening theme, it reminded me, in a good way, of the themes of The X-Files and Millennium and, wouldn’t you know it? "Music by Mark Snow". Honestly, for something that MGM wanted to appeal to the Scream crowd, the X-Files-ian structure is still prominent in the finished film. So X-Philes might still enjoy it, even without the deleted scenes. Seriously, the prologue is not too dissimilar to the cold opens from that show, there are a few scenes that wouldn't be out of place there as the last scene before cutting to a commercial break and, while one ending is far superior over the other, the theatrical ending does have the same type of conclusion that show's MOTW episodes tended to have from time to time. Note that the director directed his fair share of X-Files episodes, so that could provide a rational explanation for why this film is like that. Hell, this is a better feature-length MOTW episode than the official feature-length MOTW episode that was the 2008 film I Want to Believe. Of course, it helps that this doesn't have a whole nine seasons & a movie's worth of continuity, with an increasingly convoluted mythology. Although, even on its own merits, the 2008 film, while a passable character study for Mulder and Scully, had the issue of having the MOTW in question not come off as interesting enough to warrant a whole feature film. Even when the show was still on the air, some were unsure if an episode about Mulder in a Freaky Friday situation really needed to be a two-parter, to the point that it remains the ONLY MOTW episode to be split in two. Maybe David Nutter just had better ideas for what type of MOTW adventures would work better in a feature-length format than in a 45-minute-long episode. And that’s how I feel about Disturbing Behaviour; an underrated '90s horror film that isn't flawless, even if you're watching a made-for-TV edit that has the deleted scenes reinstated, but might offer a good fix for any X-Philes you might know.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
11/10/25
Full Review
Mateo O
NOT BAD AT ALL. Underrated moody gem that was such a great 90s teen affair.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
08/26/25
Full Review
thiago s
Filme mais ou menos, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas de terror são mais ou menos, a história é fraca, o elenco é mais ou menos, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom, a história do filme se parece um pouco com o filme prova final (the faculty), mas de resto, mais do mesmo.
Rated 1/5 Stars •
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
05/27/25
Full Review
Buffy D
50 out of 10 stars! This movie was the best back in the day and it's still great now! The storyline was awesome and really made you think.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
05/17/25
Full Review
TheMovieSearch R
Disturbing Behavior is one of those late-’90s thrillers that tried to ride the wave of teen-oriented horror and sci-fi that exploded after Scream, but it never quite reached the same level of intrigue or cultural resonance. Directed by David Nutter, best known for his television work, the film stars James Marsden and Katie Holmes—both rising talents at the time—and presents a premise brimming with potential: the idea of a suburban town experimenting with mind control to create the perfect youth. Unfortunately, the execution doesn’t live up to the concept.
Set in a seemingly idyllic small town, the story follows Marsden’s character, Steve, as he discovers that his classmates are being brainwashed into becoming model citizens—or, as the film dubs them, “Blue Ribbons.” On paper, it’s a fascinating social commentary about conformity, control, and the pressure to meet societal expectations. In practice, though, the movie feels rushed and underdeveloped, as if key pieces of the puzzle were left on the cutting room floor. In fact, much of the original footage was removed in post-production, which explains why some character motivations and plot points feel fragmented or incomplete.
Katie Holmes shines as Rachel, the rebellious outsider with a heart of gold, bringing a spark of humanity to an otherwise sterile story. Her chemistry with Marsden is one of the few genuine elements in the film, grounding it amid the chaos of its uneven pacing and forced dialogue. Marsden himself delivers a solid performance, giving Steve a quiet depth and sincerity that helps anchor the absurdity around him. The supporting cast, including Nick Stahl as the troubled Gavin, adds some color to the narrative, though even their arcs feel abruptly cut short.
Thematically, Disturbing Behavior had the opportunity to say something meaningful about teenage rebellion and the dangers of authoritarian control. Instead, it becomes trapped in its own clichés, choosing style over substance. The film borrows heavily from Stepford Wives and Invasion of the Body Snatchers, but without the same level of nuance or slow-burn tension that made those stories so effective. Its attempts at horror are mild at best, relying more on eerie lighting and sound cues than genuine suspense or psychological dread.
Visually, the film captures the moodiness of late-’90s genre cinema, drenched in cool blues and shadowy hallways that feel distinctly of their time. The soundtrack—filled with post-grunge and alternative rock—cements its place in that era’s teen aesthetic. However, while it’s stylistically memorable, it fails to fully compensate for the lack of narrative cohesion. One can sense that there was a smarter, darker version of Disturbing Behavior buried beneath the studio edits—a version that might have explored the deeper psychological implications of its premise.
Ultimately, Disturbing Behavior lands somewhere between “watchable curiosity” and “forgettable relic.” It’s the kind of movie that you stumble upon late at night, half-remembering that you’ve seen it before. While not a complete failure, it’s also not one that sticks with you long after the credits roll. Thanks to Holmes and Marsden, it retains a faint nostalgic charm, but beyond that, it’s a reminder of an era when every studio wanted its own Scream or The Faculty—and not all experiments succeeded.
Rated 1.5/5 Stars •
Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars
10/21/25
Full Review
Stoner J
Great mind control horror thriller. Way underrated, I have always liked this movie
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
04/27/25
Full Review
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