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Strange Behaviour
Strange Behaviour
Strange Behaviour
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Strange Behaviour
Remix album by
Duran Duran
Released23 March 1999
Recorded1980–1993
Length76:45 (disc 1)
77:32 (disc 2)
LabelEMI
ProducerDuran Duran and various
Duran Duran chronology
Greatest
(1998) 		Strange Behaviour
(1999) 		Pop Trash
(2000)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStar[1]
The Encyclopedia of Popular MusicStarStar[2]
NME1/10[3]

Strange Behaviour is a remix album by the English pop rock band Duran Duran. It was released by EMI in March 1999.

The title comes from a line in the song "Skin Trade": "would someone please explain, the reason for this strange behaviour". The band had previously used "Strange Behaviour" as the name of their 1987 tour. A 1987 EP of remixes from the Notorious album that was released in Italy and Japan under the title "Strange Behavior" (American-English spelling without the 'u', rather than the British spelling used here).

Having dropped Duran Duran after their 1997 album Medazzaland, EMI was keen to begin mining the band's back catalogue. They had already released a new hits collection called Greatest (1998) and were finally getting around to releasing versions of songs that were not easily obtainable on CD.

In years to come, EMI would continue to mine the band's catalogue by reissuing the first four albums (Arena including two bonus tracks), as well as two singles boxsets and a collection of videos.

The music

[edit]

Released on two CDs, the collection really split the remixed output of Duran Duran down the middle. The first CD featured all the 12" mixes released during the initial period of the original lineup during 1981–1984, as well as remixes of several album tracks.

For the release of this compilation, EMI inadvertently unearthed two previously unreleased remixes, the Night mix of "Planet Earth" and a remix of "Hold Back the Rain".

CD Two features remixes from a new era when singles were being released with multiple remixes. As such, EMI cherry picked remixes from various sources for the second disc.

Some of these were commissioned but never used, like the "Love Voodoo" remix, or released on promotional only singles like the dub mix of "I Don't Want Your Love", the Chemical Reaction mix of "American Science" and the Jellybean Benitez remix of "Too Much Information", the latter originally appearing on a 12" on the DJ service SIN label.

Track listing

[edit]

Disc one (1981–1984)

  1. "Planet Earth" (Night Mix) – 6:58
  2. "Girls on Film" (Night Version) – 5:31
  3. "My Own Way" (Night Version) – 6:37
  4. "Hungry Like the Wolf" (Night Version) – 5:12
  5. "Hold Back the Rain" (Remix) – 6:38
  6. "Rio" (Carnival Version) – 6:41
  7. "New Religion" (Carnival Version) – 5:19
  8. "Is There Something I Should Know?" (Monster Mix) – 6:41
  9. "Union of the Snake" (The Monkey Mix) – 6:28
  10. "New Moon on Monday" (Extended Version) – 6:03
  11. "The Reflex" (Dance Mix) – 6:33
  12. "The Wild Boys" (Wilder Than Wild Boys Extended Mix) – 8:01

Disc two (1986–1993)

  1. "Notorious" (Extended Mix) – 5:15
  2. "Skin Trade" (Stretch Mix) – 7:41
  3. "'Meet El Presidente'" (12" Version) – 7:14
  4. "American Science" (Chemical Reaction Mix) – 7:42
  5. "I Don't Want Your Love" (Dub Mix) – 7:36
  6. "All She Wants Is" (US Master Mix) – 7:19
  7. "Violence of Summer (Love's Taking Over)" (Power Mix) – 4:58
  8. "Come Undone (Come Undub)" – 4:47
  9. "Love Voodoo" (Sidney St. 12" Mix) – 4:40
  10. "Too Much Information" (12" Jellybean Mix) – 6:43
  11. "None of the Above" (Drizabone 12" Mix) – 6:36
  12. "Drowning Man" (D:Ream Ambient Mix) – 6:45

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Strange Behaviour

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Strange Behaviour (also released as Strange Behavior in the United States and Dead Kids internationally) is a 1981 New Zealand-Australian directed by in his feature debut. The story centers on a small-town in the American Midwest who investigates a string of bizarre and brutal murders targeting teenagers, uncovering a connection to clandestine mind-control experiments conducted by a rogue scientist at a local college. Blending elements of slasher horror, , and conspiracy thriller, the film stars Michael Murphy as the determined Sheriff John Brady, alongside as Barbara Moorehead, as the troubled teen Pete Brady, and as his girlfriend Caroline. Produced by Antony I. Ginnane and under Hemdale and South Street Films, Strange Behaviour was shot primarily in , , to represent a fictional town, marking it as one of the earliest horror features filmed there. The film's distinctive electronic soundtrack, composed by the German ambient group (, Chris Franke, and Johannes Schmolling), was recorded in 1981 but not commercially released until 2022 on vinyl by Terror Vision Records. Originally intended as the first in a trilogy of Midwestern horror tales and co-written by , the project stalled due to financial issues, though Laughlin later directed the unrelated in 1983. Upon its 1981 release and subsequent , Strange Behaviour received mixed for its uneven pacing and low-budget effects but was praised for its atmospheric tension, quirky dialogue, and innovative genre fusion. It holds an 80% approval rating from critics on based on 10 reviews, with audience scores at 45%. Over time, the film has developed a among horror enthusiasts for its offbeat tone and prescient themes of behavioral manipulation, influencing later works in the sci-fi slasher subgenre.

Background

Conception

Strange Behaviour was conceived by American director as his feature film debut and the first installment in a planned "Strange Trilogy" of Midwestern horror stories, drawing inspiration from 1950s pulp horror films and mad-scientist tropes. Laughlin co-wrote the with , whom he contacted after reading Condon's 1978 article in Millimeter magazine while Condon worked as a at Avco . The story blends slasher horror, , and thriller elements, focusing on mind-control experiments in a small American town. Condon, who also served as associate producer and made a as a murdered teenager, contributed ideas such as incorporating Lou Christie's 1966 song "Lightnin' Strikes" for a choreographed dance sequence.

Development context

The film's development emphasized low-budget ingenuity, with a $1 million budget and a one-month shooting schedule. Although set in the fictional Illinois town of Galesburg, principal photography took place in Auckland, New Zealand, under the working title Dead Kids, utilizing local locations and vintage cars from collectors' clubs to evoke a Midwestern American setting. Production involved companies including Hemdale, Fay Richwhite, South Street Films, Gupta Film Services, Flavius Films, Endeavour Productions, and Bannon Glen, with Laughlin co-producing alongside Antony I. Ginnane. The electronic soundtrack, composed by Tangerine Dream (Edgar Froese, Chris Franke, and Johannes Schmoelling), was recorded in 1981 but remained unreleased commercially until 2022. Financial challenges stalled the trilogy after the second, unrelated film Strange Invaders (1983) underperformed at the box office.

Production and content

Development

Strange Behavior was developed by American director Michael Laughlin in collaboration with writer Bill Condon, whom he met after Condon wrote an article about Laughlin's short film The Man Who Couldn’t Get His Feet Wet in Millimeter magazine in 1978. Laughlin, seeking to create a homage to 1950s pulp science fiction and horror films like Invasion of the Body Snatchers, envisioned a story blending slasher elements with mind-control conspiracy themes. The script, co-written by Laughlin and Condon, centers on a small-town sheriff investigating teen murders linked to psychological experiments at a local college. Australian producer Antony I. Ginnane, known for low-budget horror, partnered with Laughlin through Hemdale Film Corporation, securing a budget of approximately $1 million. The project was initially titled Dead Kids during development.

Filming and crew

Principal photography took place primarily in , , from late 1979 to early 1980, standing in for a fictional Midwestern American town called "." This choice was driven by cost savings and New Zealand's emerging film incentives, marking one of the earliest international horror productions filmed there. Louis Horvath captured the film's eerie, fog-shrouded atmosphere using practical effects for its low-budget kills and sci-fi elements. Editing was handled by Petra von Oelffen, emphasizing tense pacing amid the genre fusion. The production involved multiple companies, including Hemdale, Fay Richwhite, South Street Films, and Endeavour Productions, with serving as . No major on-set incidents were reported, though the remote location posed logistical challenges for the mostly American cast.

Cast and performances

Michael Laughlin cast Michael Murphy as Sheriff John Brady, the film's determined protagonist navigating the conspiracy. portrayed the enigmatic Dr. Lisa Coopersmith, a role drawing on her One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest experience for subtle menace. played the troubled teen Oliver, while was his girlfriend Barbara; supporting roles included as Brady's son Pete and as Coopersmith's assistant. The ensemble delivered quirky, dialogue-heavy performances that enhanced the film's offbeat tone, blending earnest horror with satirical undertones on behavioral science.

Music and style

The film's content fuses slasher horror with and thriller elements, featuring brutal teen-targeted murders, clandestine experiments, and themes of mind manipulation prescient to later works like remakes. Its distinctive electronic soundtrack was composed by the German group (, Christopher Franke, and Johannes Schmölzi), recorded in 1981 to underscore the synth-driven suspense. The score, not commercially released until 2022 by Cineploit Records, contributes to the atmospheric tension without overpowering the narrative. Special effects were minimal, relying on practical gore and suggestion to maintain its B-movie charm.

Release

Formats and packaging

Strange Behaviour was primarily released as a two-disc compilation in a standard jewel case format, remastered for the occasion and issued by on 23 March 1999 in the United Kingdom and . The packaging included a 16-page fold-out booklet containing that credit the various engineers and producers involved in the tracks, such as Alex Sadkin, Daniel Abraham, and . In the United States, the album saw limited availability through imports rather than a dedicated domestic release. No vinyl or cassette editions were produced at the time of launch, reflecting the shift toward CD as the dominant physical format in the late . Regional variations existed across markets, with pressings manufactured in , , , and , some featuring distinct matrix codes or minor production differences but maintaining the core two-CD structure. For instance, editions in certain territories included full track credits in the booklet, while others incorporated promotional inserts or stickers. Later, the album became available digitally on streaming platforms such as in the 2000s. This release marked EMI's final Duran Duran album under their longstanding partnership.

Promotion and commercial performance

Promotion for Strange Behaviour was limited following Duran Duran's departure from EMI Records in 1998 after 18 years with the label. As a back-catalogue remix compilation, the album received no major single releases or official music videos, with marketing efforts primarily handled by EMI to capitalize on the band's earlier hits amid their ongoing contract obligations for archival material. The release coincided with EMI's strategy of mining Duran Duran's past recordings, building on the 1998 greatest hits collection Greatest, though specific in-store displays or tied campaigns for Strange Behaviour were not prominently documented. Commercially, Strange Behaviour achieved modest success, peaking at No. 70 on the and spending just one week in the Top 100. It did not enter the US , reflecting its niche appeal as a remix-focused product targeted at dedicated fans rather than mainstream audiences. Global sales were constrained in the first year, underscoring the album's role as a contractual rather than a flagship release, with estimates placing initial figures below significant thresholds for broader impact. In the aftermath, the album's issuance contributed to EMI's decision to fully sever active ties with the band, allowing Duran Duran to sign a new multi-album deal with later in 1999. It also demonstrated sustained fan interest in 1980s-era remixes, building on earlier archival reissues such as Night Versions: The Essential Duran Duran (1998) and influencing subsequent compilations that revisited similar extended mixes.

Reception

Critical response

Upon its 1981 release, Strange Behaviour received mixed reviews from critics. It was praised for its atmospheric tension, quirky dialogue, and innovative blending of slasher horror, , and thriller elements, but criticized for uneven pacing and low-budget effects. The film holds an 80% approval rating on based on 10 critic reviews, with an average rating of 6.7/10; the audience score is 45% based on over 250 ratings. Kat Sachs of the called it "an excellent film that combines midwestern charm with an –esque ." Scott Tobias of The Dissolve noted that while "lackadaisical pacing steals a lot of the tension," the film is "full of wondrous scene-by-scene oddities." On , it has an average rating of 5.6/10 from over 2,600 user ratings.

Legacy and retrospective views

Over time, Strange Behaviour has developed a among horror enthusiasts for its offbeat tone, prescient themes of mind control and behavioral manipulation, and distinctive soundtrack. As New Zealand's first horror , it is considered a seminal work in the country's cinema, despite being set in the American Midwest and shot in . Retrospective reviews highlight its quirky charm and influence on the sci-fi slasher subgenre. A 2020 podcast review described it as a "cult classic Ozploitation film." The soundtrack's commercial release in 2022 further boosted interest among fans of electronic music and horror. The film has no major awards but continues to be referenced in discussions of early genre filmmaking and international co-productions.
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