Wild Things - So much more than you've (probably) heard

I'm not sure whether 'Wild Things' was a commercial hit when it was first released back in 1998 or not.  The critics seem to hate it, calling it 'trash' and 'soft p0rn.' Whereas it soon developed a cult audience - many going to see it because its marketing played heavily on nude scenes from (then hot property) Denise Richards and various lesbian love scenes (spoiler: there isn't that much lesbianism contained within).

So, many people said it made money because it was effectively soft p0rn (and remember, this film was released before the internet became mainstream - nowadays anything found in 'Wild Things' is absolutely tame compared to what shows up on Google!).  Perhaps that aspect helped sell the movie.  However, it's so much more than just idle schoolboys' fantasies.

I'll be deliberately vague about the film's plot, because anything too detailed will give away major spoilers for what's to come.  It's more of a thriller, with a healthy dose of murder/mystery and - of course - some sexual scenes thrown in there, but - again - I stress not as many as you may think, based on the film's reception back in the day.

There's so many twists in this film that you may actually have to pay attention to what's happening (even when the performers have their clothes on!).  And that's the film's true selling point - it's story.  It's one of those films where you can only ever watch it once and enjoy the fact that you don't know where it's going.  The four main actors (Kevin Bacon, Matt Dillon, Denise Richards and Neve Campbell) all shine in their respective roles as they fight for money, greed and (in some cases) love.

Yes, if you probably held every aspect of the plot up to extreme scrutiny then it may require some suspension of disbelief in some places, but doesn't every film these days?  It's fun.  It's sexy.  It's trashy, but overall it's a very cleverly-written story and the initial negative feedback it received shouldn't be what your opinion is based on.

Oh, and I forget to mention that even Bill Murray is in it.  It's only now 'Breaking Bad' has come and gone that I think Murray's character could well be a distant relative to 'Breaking Bad's' 'Saul' in terms of dodgy lawyers.  Murray's not one of the main quartet of characters, but he steals every scene he's in.

10/10 The Monty Python Knights of Camelot are currently looking for this