release date: August 21, 1998. Too many films about aliens? "How about teenagers as aliens?" asked director David Nutter, whose thriller "Disturbing Behavior" is aimed at the same teenage crowd that rallied to the "Scream" films. It stars James Marsden, Nick Stahl, and Katie Holmes, in a story about teenagers in the Seattle area who suddenly become exactly what their parents want - totally wholesome overachievers. "Think of 'The Stepford Wives' but apply it to kids," said Nutter, 37, who knows a thing or two about young audiences as well as thrillers. Although he's making his feature debut with the $10 million "Disturbing Behavior," he is noted for directing some of the most memorable episodes of "the X-files." "It's clearly time to look up to teenagers rather than dumb down everything for them," Nutter said. "This film isn't juvenile because it really talks about teenagers as the outsiders the adults would always want to cast them as being. We're saying, 'Wait a minute, what makes teenager such aliens? And what alienates them?'" "Disturbing Behavior" was written by Scott Rosenberg, who created last summer's box office slugger "Con Air." Oh, and one thing about "Disturbing Behavior" - it'll be rated R. "Teenagers aren't going to go otherwise," Nutter said. "'Scream proved that a couple of times."

--San Francisco Chronicle, Chronicle Staff Writer Peter Stack and Chronicle Correspondents Dan Yakir, Nancy Mills, and Bart Mills. May 17, 1998.

TRAILERS

DANCER TEXAS, POP. 81,Sony Pictures Entertainment, 1998 as Squirrel

Four best friends who grew up in Texas made a promise to leave town together after they graduate from High School. Now the time has come, and 81 people from the town make bets, comments, opinions on whether they will truly leave or stay.