People aren't always what they appear to be. Don't forget that.
Before feasting my eyes upon 1998's Wild Things, I suspected it would be an extra raunchy film with little to no plot and terrible acting. Instead, I was more than pleasantly surprised at what the film is, which is a rather incredibly made neo-noir that fully embraces the time period it came out in with modernized adjustments made to the classic film-noir tropes. The film knows what it is and sticks with it; pushing the envelope of that knowledge until it nearly bursts. Yes, the film features a bunch of trashy people doing trashy things, but it does so intelligently. It's a beautiful excuse to see 20-somethings Denise Richards and Neve Campbell slather champagne over their naked bodies. The motives of the characters are not so clear as day within context and we are shown just enough by the director to second guess ourselves every step of the way.
From the opening shots of the Florida Everglades to the city skyline, the tone is set perfectly. There is one shot that gives us a crocodile/alligator just appearing above the water... using its camouflage to its maximum ability, analogous to the many red herrings we will see, also providing a great sense of foreboding; the predator and its prey (where the first half of the film takes us clearly and then pushes that theme further in the second half). But get this... the Florida Everglades are famous for many reasons. One of those reasons is it is the only place on Earth where alligators and crocodiles coexist. Two top-tier reptilian predators competing in the same environment... which is the perfect anecdote to this hot and steamy thriller we are about to see.
The film gets full ratings for its established style; the credit font, the super sleek score, its great imagery, and the actors that don't necessarily over due it or flat out appear like they're giving up. I'm not a huge fan of any of the four leads (Bacon, Dillon, Richards, or Campbell) because I haven't seen them enough in other films or because they have never truly amazed me. But here, they all do really fantastic jobs. Richards especially, takes her blessed voluptuous image and uses it to a grander scale of cunning. Campbell does a great job showing us a weak and helpless troubled child, while Dillon and Bacon play Mr. Cool and Hot-Headed Cop to a tee. My personal favorite of everyone is the always wonderful Bill Murray as the lowly attorney who defends Matt Dillon from his accusers. He is perfectly funny in the right moments.
Not to bore on, but the film does make quite a huge statement against the current #metoo/believe all women movement and twists it up in a way where no one is really the true "winner" except for the most cunning of them all. Wild Things has a lot going for it and brings the neo-noir genre alive with its modernized femme fatales, sexy dudes, and super twisty plot (how I appreciate Kevin Bacon not leaving the nudity to the women). I wish I had witnessed this film sooner in my life, or experienced more neo-noirs that are done this excellently (shout out to director John McNaughton). I even enjoy the expositions we are given through the rolling credits which I believe doesn't take away from the film, but instead shows the confidence of it's story by showing us more.
True to its title Wild Things is wild and also something I was not expecting. The second film from the 90s I've seen within a week I judged by its cover and got completely wrong (the other is She's All That, not amazing but pleasantly enjoyable). Wild Things shoots to the top of my list for best films of the 90s.
Before feasting my eyes upon 1998's Wild Things, I suspected it would be an extra raunchy film with little to no plot and terrible acting. Instead, I was more than pleasantly surprised at what the film is, which is a rather incredibly made neo-noir that fully embraces the time period it came out in with modernized adjustments made to the classic film-noir tropes. The film knows what it is and sticks with it; pushing the envelope of that knowledge until it nearly bursts. Yes, the film features a bunch of trashy people doing trashy things, but it does so intelligently. It's a beautiful excuse to see 20-somethings Denise Richards and Neve Campbell slather champagne over their naked bodies. The motives of the characters are not so clear as day within context and we are shown just enough by the director to second guess ourselves every step of the way.
From the opening shots of the Florida Everglades to the city skyline, the tone is set perfectly. There is one shot that gives us a crocodile/alligator just appearing above the water... using its camouflage to its maximum ability, analogous to the many red herrings we will see, also providing a great sense of foreboding; the predator and its prey (where the first half of the film takes us clearly and then pushes that theme further in the second half). But get this... the Florida Everglades are famous for many reasons. One of those reasons is it is the only place on Earth where alligators and crocodiles coexist. Two top-tier reptilian predators competing in the same environment... which is the perfect anecdote to this hot and steamy thriller we are about to see.
The film gets full ratings for its established style; the credit font, the super sleek score, its great imagery, and the actors that don't necessarily over due it or flat out appear like they're giving up. I'm not a huge fan of any of the four leads (Bacon, Dillon, Richards, or Campbell) because I haven't seen them enough in other films or because they have never truly amazed me. But here, they all do really fantastic jobs. Richards especially, takes her blessed voluptuous image and uses it to a grander scale of cunning. Campbell does a great job showing us a weak and helpless troubled child, while Dillon and Bacon play Mr. Cool and Hot-Headed Cop to a tee. My personal favorite of everyone is the always wonderful Bill Murray as the lowly attorney who defends Matt Dillon from his accusers. He is perfectly funny in the right moments.
Not to bore on, but the film does make quite a huge statement against the current #metoo/believe all women movement and twists it up in a way where no one is really the true "winner" except for the most cunning of them all. Wild Things has a lot going for it and brings the neo-noir genre alive with its modernized femme fatales, sexy dudes, and super twisty plot (how I appreciate Kevin Bacon not leaving the nudity to the women). I wish I had witnessed this film sooner in my life, or experienced more neo-noirs that are done this excellently (shout out to director John McNaughton). I even enjoy the expositions we are given through the rolling credits which I believe doesn't take away from the film, but instead shows the confidence of it's story by showing us more.
True to its title Wild Things is wild and also something I was not expecting. The second film from the 90s I've seen within a week I judged by its cover and got completely wrong (the other is She's All That, not amazing but pleasantly enjoyable). Wild Things shoots to the top of my list for best films of the 90s.
