‘Disturbing Behavior’ is a Time Capsule of ‘90s Teen Angst and Counterculture
I first caught Disturbing Behavior (which recently observed a release date anniversary July 24) during the film’s theatrical exhibition in 1998. I enjoyed it well enough at the time but didn’t love it. After a couple of repeat visits, I have come to appreciate the flick a bit more. I see it as a film in the vein of The Stepford Wives (albeit less impressive) that serves up some solid thrills and chills, while functioning as a nostalgic stroll down memory lane. Additionally, it’s an effective portrait of counterculture during a defining time for self-expression.
Steve (James Marsden) and his family relocate to Cradle Bay, WA for a change of pace following a tragic loss. When Steve begins class at his new school, he meets new friends like Gavin (Nick Stahl), Rachel (Katie Holmes), and U.V. (Chad Donella). His new clique revels in their individuality and harbors suspicions about the school’s Blue Ribbon Club. Steve initially finds the organization innocuous enough. But the more he learns about the group, the more Steve comes to suspect that its members may have been brainwashed and forced into conformity.
As someone that was coming of age in the ‘90s, I can verify that counterculture was a big deal back then. The punk movement was expanding outside the underground and that aesthetic had become more commonplace. We were pushing boundaries, piercing our bodies, and challenging the relevance of fitting in. And that paved the way for nostril hoops and neon-colored hair to (eventually) be seen as less subversive.
It’s especially appropriate that the flick is set near Seattle, which was essentially home base for the counter culture movement of the ‘90s. The grunge and alternative rock scenes there served as the soundtrack to the anti-conformity movement and both genres gained a great deal of notoriety there.
Speaking of musical stylings, the film comes complete with a soundtrack featuring a sampling of late ‘90s alternative, metal, and grunge. That, along with the fashions of the era and ‘90s slang make the flick read like a product of its time. But I don’t mean that as a dig. This is a picture that captures a defining cultural era. So, it would be counterintuitive for the film not to feel like a product of the time in which the action is unfolding.
In addition to serving as a snapshot of ‘90s counterculture filled with a sampling of the musical stylings of the period, Disturbing Behavior also succeeds in its depiction of the adolescent experience. The film leans into feelings of teenage angst as it chronicles the struggle to fit in, the pressure to conform, and the inherent distrust of authority. Though it’s a little cheesy at times, Disturbing Behavior gets more right than wrong in its portrayal of ‘90s kids.
Speaking of ‘90s kids, the flick features an impressive cast of teen characters that includes the likes of James Marsden, Nick Stahl, Katie Holmes, Katharine Isabelle, and Ethan Embry. Bruce Greenwood and William Sadler round out the adult cast and both turn in impressive performances. Sadler is almost unrecognizable as a janitor going out of his way to blend into the woodwork and Greenwood shines in a more sinister turn.
Greenwood’s eerie performance works well within the dismal reality imagined by screenwriter Scott Rosenberg. The setup fosters a persistent sense of paranoia that is present throughout. The core cast have no one to trust. They aren’t safe with their classmates, teachers, or even their parents.
Director David Nutter presents the proceedings through cool blue hues that lend an air of isolation to the ordeal. Coupled with the ever-present sense of paranoia, that makes for a chilling viewing experience.
Perhaps in an attempt to provide relief from the film’s more chilling moments, the picture occasionally surprises by serving up a little dark comedy. The sequence where Lorna (one of the Blue Ribbon gals) short circuits after she finds herself sexually attracted to Steven is kind of hilarious. She melts down like a robot with crossed wiring and there’s an element of campy humor to the scene that always makes me chuckle.
All things considered, Disturbing Behavior serves as a nostalgic return to the ‘90s. It’s a thrilling effort with a dynamite cast, a few good chuckles, and an ever-present air of paranoia.
Whether you’re curious to check the picture out for the first time or are due for a rewatch, you can find it for free (with ads) on Pluto and Tubi.
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