Wild Things

1998 Mystery & Suspense

This thriller takes place in Blue Bay, Florida, where social-climbing guidance counselor Sam Lombardo (Matt Dillon) is indifferent to teen-socialite Kelly Van Ryan (Denise Richards), who retaliates by accusing him of rape, an accusation that leads to his suspension by the school and a rejection from the country club. He can't afford a big attorney, so he hires shrewd Ken Bowden (Bill Murray), while Kelly's mom, Sandra Van Ryan (Theresa Russell), Sam's former lover, gets a platoon of top lawyers. Trailer-trash Suzie Toller (Neve Campbell) backs up Kelly's claim and additional plot twists and turns develop. The seldom-seen Carrie Snodgrass (Diary of a Mad Housewife) has a supporting role in this film.

Director: John McNaughton

Starring: Matt Dillon, Denise Richards, Neve Campbell,Kevin Bacon, Theresa Russell

Reviews

  • It's like a three-way collision between a softcore sex film, a soap opera and a B-grade noir. I liked it.

    Roger Ebert - The Chicago Sun-Times

    27 May 2013

  • A tricky-bordering-on-gimmicky film noir with a glaze of soft-core kink.

    Owen Gleiberman - Entertainment Weekly

    27 May 2013

  • The fun of Wild Things -- and there's a lot of it -- is in its never-ending game of cross and double cross.

    Marc Savlov - Austin Chronicle

    27 May 2013

  • A sleazy, seamy, flashy, steamy, vulgar exploitation thriller that revels in every minute of its own trashiness and delivers some pretty solid -- if prurient -- entertainment before strangling in a one-twist-too-many ending.

    Maitland McDonagh - TV Guide

    27 May 2013

  • It's amusing in a trashy sort of way.

    Ruthe Stein - The San Francisco Chronicle

    27 May 2013

Awards

  • Outstanding Actress in a Feature Film

    ALMA Awards (1999)

     
  • Best Music

    Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films (1999)

     
  • Favorite Supporting Actress - Suspense

    Blockbuster Entertainment Awards (1999)

  • Best Supporting Actor

    Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards (1998)

  • Best Kiss

    MTV Movie Awards (1999)