(This article is about the 1981 horror film. For the Animotion album, see Strange Behavior (album).) Strange Behavior (original title Dead Kids) is a 1981 mystery horror film directed by Michael Laughlin, written by Bill Condon, and starring Michael Murphy. It is a homage to the pulp horror films of the 1950s. The film was intended as the first installment of the Strange Trilogy which was cancelled after the second installment, Strange Invaders, failed to attract a large enough audience.