Review: Wild Things
Blu-ray: Wild Things (1998)
Alas, they don’t make film like this anymore. What’s that? NO sigh of relief from Tina? No feminist outburst? Nope, just a genuine lament at the loss of ‘sex-thrillers’ such as Basic Instinct, Fatal Attraction and director Jon Macnaughton’s Wild Things.
Apparently star and producer Kevin Bacon said this script was one of the trashiest he’d seen, and he’s right, it’s just on the edge of terrible, and the plot holes are as big as the Mersey tunnel, but this is a fun, twisty turny film that has great hammed-up (especially Theresa Russell who plays Sandra Van Ryan) performances from its cast, great scenery and Denise Richards orb-like breasts.
Florida High school guidance counsellor Sam Lombardo (Matt Dillon) is a working class guy dating a rich society girl. One of his pupils, the spoilt rich Kelly Van Ryan (Denise Richards) fancies him and manages to get him alone after washing his car and getting VERY wet. She leaves dishevelled and it appears she’s been rejected by Sam. She then accuses him of rape along with misfit ‘Grunge’ pupil Suzie Toller (Neve Campbell –breasts firmly covered at all times). Sam pays lawyer Ken Bowden (Bill Murray in a small part) to defend him.
Now I could carry on with the plot and tell you about Kevin Bacon, but instead – if you haven’t seen Wild Things and you like those sleazy 90’s, “not really sexy” thrillers, buy Wild Things immediately, as it’s definitely one of the better ones. It’s been 20 years since I’ve seen it so had forgotten the story and was surprised and very entertained.
Also released on 4K UHD.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
- New 4K restorations of both the Original Theatrical Version and the Unrated Edition from the original camera negatives by Sony Pictures Entertainment
- High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation
- Original uncompressed stereo audio and DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround audio
- Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
- Exclusive new audio commentary by director John McNaughton and producer Steven A. Jones
- Commentary by director John McNaughton, cinematographer Jeffrey Kimball, producers Steven A. Jones and Rodney Liber, editor Elena Maganini and score composer George S. Clinton
- Exclusive new interview with John McNaughton
- Exclusive new interview with Denise Richards
- Making of documentary
- An Understanding Lawyer outtakes
- Trailer
- Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Anne Billson and Sean Hogan
- Double-sided fold-out poster
- Six double-sided, postcard-sized lobby card reproductions
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Sam Hadley
Released 23rd May 2022.
Review by Tina from a disc kindly supplied by Arrow Films via Faetch Publicity.
