Wild Things, an erotic neo-noir thriller that premiered in 1998 under the direction of John McNaughton, relishes in twisting the plot to catch audiences off guard. From its lustful cast to the outrageous plot construction riddled with twists, the film cemented itself in the late 90s’ most notorious flicks, captivating a cult following. Starring Matt Dillon, Neve Campbell, Denise Richards, and Kevin Bacon, Wild Things is a primal juggernaut that intertwines a psychological game and a crime plot steeped in sex, betrayal, and deceit.
Tony Scott wrote the screenplay based on a story by Stephen Peters, who had previously worked on The Liar’s Club. The casting alone formed high expectations. The blend of seasoned ‘90s on-screen hotshots plus the emerging talents promised gold. Along with its drama-filled plot, Wild Things gave birth to Guy-esque storytelling confident in ‘who-dun-it’ contemporary plots.
The film opens with a glimpse of life in Blue Bay, Florida, where high school guidance counselor Sam Lombardo (Matt Dillon) captures adoration from students and parents alike. His charm and good looks placed him a cut above the average elite figure. His calm demeanor inadvertently helps bide evils. Life spirals out of control for him when he gets accused by a pampered rich pupil, Kelly Van Ryan (Denise Richards), who claims he had raped her before son conceding starting with Sam as her first notch. Another pupil slowly pipes up, further complicating matters. Suzie Toller (Neve Campbell), a mentally troubled woman hailing from the atom particularly challenges blend love Suzie Toller, an abused girl from the bottom of the barrel.
That dual claim sends pandemonium to the once orderly world Sam tamed, cranking the drama dial to eleven.
What appears as a simple case of sorella Unico misbehavior is later found to be a very convoluted tale. In a heel turning courtroom scene, Suzie claims all the accusations being placed are untrue; it is her and Kelly who made up everything, and the story is fabricated. While Sam gets his relief, the answer he seeks is only the tip of the iceberg. Later on in the film, it is revealed that the made-up allegations are part of a larger conspiracy scheme that entails extortion, betrayal, prostitution, and even assassination.
Wild Things best asset is the viewer’s perception. The story manages to continuously alter the underlying narrative, breaking apart the psychological warfare induced on the audience. Just when you think you’ve got a hold on a single element, you feel one gentle push, and right then you are metaphorically standing, unfolding another sassy well thought out sonnet for the camera portraying everything you thought you knew. Each secret suspense is precisely timed in plot woven mystery choked with string puppets of reality and the fragile contours of the visual world the audience were gifted to witness. The thrill is heavy handed, but cherished equally alongside an afterthought fuel for perceived mental intelligence.
Delivering calm, reserved performances is in Dillon’s nature, and he does not disappoint with Sam, a character Dillon plays with just the right mix of charm and ambiguity. Is he caught in the web of a deceitful scheme or is he a conspirator as well? Until the very end, Dillon strikingly manages to keep nirvana under wrap, never revealing too much, allowing the character to stay hidden and shrouded until the final moments. In one of her most famous appearances, Denise Richards portrays Kelly with a spellbinding mastery, using her beauty and riches and confidence to play around with the people she targets. Along with Neve Campbell, her infamous pool scene is particularly one of the most iconic scenes of the movie and anchored her place as a sex symbol in the 90s.
The Scream movies and Party of Five made Campbell a household name. Neve Campbell shocked many when she took up the role of Suzie. She was initially crafted as a to a soft, vulnerable and mentally fragile character but suzie is arguably one of the most clever and complex characters of the film. Compellingly the role of the fragile suzie features an extreme edge which bring at risk the meekness and danger making her sympathetic yet lethal.
The role of Detective Ray Duquette is embodied by Kevin Bacon who plays it with a sense of obsessive determination. It is like he is the only one trying to restore order in the mess that is Wild Things, but just like everyone else in Wild Things, he too has skeletons in the closet. His character is fleshed out as the story progresses and is most complex at one of the movie’s final twists.
The film does not shy away from exploiting its sunny Floridian setting and capturing all the swamps, beaches, and luxurious estates for sultry eye candy. The dreamlike quality of the setting enhances the mood of the film. As a cinematographer, Jeffrey L. Kimball has a clear vision for the movie. His world is made humid and shadowy, just like the morality of the characters. The vibrant nature and the angles from which the camera has been pointed at are suggestive of suspense as well as eroticism, luring the audience towards beauty under danger.
One of the film’s most unique features is the use of post-credit sequences to bridge some narrative gaps and reveal pertinent pieces of information. These behind-the-scenes glimpses during the credits showcase how the characters colluded together, unfolding portions of the plan that were concealed within the main narrative. This is an intelligent storytelling technique because it incentivizes rewatching the film, as attentive viewers are rewarded for their efforts.
Wild Things divided audiences when it first premiered. Its fans defended the film’s unconventional structure, vibrant performances, and rule-breaking attitude towards thriller tropes. Critics lambasted the film’s focus on sexuality, deeming it shallow or exploitative. Nonetheless, the film has experienced a renaissance. It’s now celebrated for Wild Things’s audacious commentary on class strife and manipulation, alongside a remarkable balance of eroticism and suspense.
Wealth and privilege often have a veneer of sophistication. Their sexual undercurrents showcase the power and control embedded within intimate relationships. Wild things exhibits how far a person will go for money or revenge. Trust turns out to be an illusion as one endeavors to navigate through life’s myriad challenges, painting the world in a cynical yet captivating light. There are no protagonists or ‘heroes’ in the movie; its harsh reality only consists of ‘survivors’ adept at employing any means necessary.
John McNaughton, the director, is responsible for shaping the film’s plot. He maintains coherence even when showing the numerous intricate turns and layers of the film. While the more sinister elements of the film stem from his background in crime and horror (Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer), his admiration for noir storytelling is what brings to life the morally ambiguous characters_plot.
To sum up
Wild Things is a film that is astonishing and entertaining as much as it was at the time of its release. Its controversial premise is accompanied by sophisticated plot development, impressive acting, and a masterful blending of genres. Balancing both seduction and sinister elements, Wild Things unapologetically cements itself as a guilty pleasure with its slick aesthetic and relentless twists that intertwine lust, deceit, and manipulation. It goes beyond most in both strategy and depth of content, earning its status as a cult classic within the erotic thriller sphere.
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