Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

Wild Things Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman May 13, 2022

Note: There are at least a couple of salient plot points that need to be alluded to at a bare minimum for even a basic plot summary of Wild Things to suffice. Those concerned about any potential spoiler territory are therefore forewarned.

How do you like your "big twists" rolled out in any given film? In one gobsmacking revelation delivered late in the running time, or sprinkled throughout the story like veritable breadcrumbs leading the viewer to the ostensible truth? Though it's not exactly an innovative approach, Wild Things kind of does both, including a fun set of interstitials that play out in between the closing credits that seek to give a bit more contextual information about a plot that can only be charitably described as labyrinthine and which has already offered a surprise or several. And in fact in an interview with director John McNaughton included on this disc as a supplement, McNaughton overtly states that the plotting of the film was so air tight from the first draft that he received that virtually nothing was changed with regard to the plot in particular, even if some rewriting was ordered to develop characters and dialogue. Wild Things may not exactly be a candidate for any viewers aligned to or sympathetic with the #metoo movement, since it overtly makes two supposed rape victims part of a conspiracy to extort money. But in a way, that's merely the tip of a very deep iceberg, with Wild Things peeling back layer after layer of a bunch of basically despicable characters, none of whom might be accused of having an operational moral compass. There's therefore a kind of lurid, even trashy, quality to some of the plot dynamics, but Wild Things is often viscerally enjoyable, and it features a kind of remarkable ensemble cast which gives the film considerable marquee value.

Sam Lombardo (Matt Dillon) is a high school guidance counselor, and he's both matinee idol good looking as well as not that much older than his charges, which perhaps makes him the object of some lustful attention from some of the attendees of the facility. In fact one of them, "rich girl" Kelly Lanier Van Ryan (Denise Richards) seems to be overtly flirtatious with Sam, and there are a few hints that maybe things between the two aren't exactly all that "innocent". There also seems to be some "history" between Sam and Kelly's mother, a kind of blowsy middle aged femme fatale named Sandra (Teresa Russell). While Sam seems to be a trusted confidant to at least some of the kids at the school, his entire reputation takes a major downturn when Kelly and the school's resident "bad" girl, Suzie Toller (Neve Campbell), both accuse him of rape.

Two police officers, Ray Duquette (Kevin Bacon) and Gloria Perez (Daphne Rubin-Vega), have already been introduced in a kind of cheeky opening vignette documenting a "Senior Seminar" at Blue Bay High School hoping to educate hormonal boys in particular about "sex crimes", but once Kelly's accusation is made, they start investigating Sam, leading to a trial where Sam is defended by a seeming ambulance chaser type named Kenneth Bowden (Bill Murray). Now it is perhaps notable that all of these plot machinations take place almost breathlessly in the film's first act, which may in and of itself indicate just how twisty and turny things become, since there's more or less an hour yet to come. Suffice it to say (in an effort to not give away too much), while it's almost patently obvious from the get go that things are not exactly as they're (initially) being portrayed, what the "truth" is turns out to be highly (as in highly) variable as one revelation after another is doled out.

While there's a kind of smarmy undertone to things, it's actually intentional and I'd argue with tongue only slightly in cheek that the film's location of Florida makes it all more or less believable. The supporting cast is really unbelievably eclectic, featuring everyone from Robert Wagner to Carrie Snodgress in fun character bits. The underlying foundation of the plot would simply seem to be a riff on the old adage that there's no honor among thieves, but that hoary maxim is given a rather stylish update in Wild Things.

Wild Things Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Note: Screenshots 1 through 13 are from the Original Theatrical Version. Screenshots 14 through 19 are from the Unrated Edition.

Wild Things is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Arrow Video with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.39. Arrow's insert booklet contains the following information about the transfer which despite being offered in the form of a paragraph reads more like a bullet list:

Wild Things was restored in 4K by Sony Pictures Entertainment. 4K scanning by Colorworks, Culver City from the 35mm Original Picture Negative. Digital Image Restoration by Prasad Corporation, India and Roundabout Entertainment, Santa Monica. HDR color grading and conform by colorist David Bernstein at Roundabout Entertainment in Santa Monica. Audio restoration and conrom at Sony Pictures Entertainment, sourced from the original 35mm 5.1 stereo magnetic tracks. Restoration supervised by Rita Belda for SPE, with color approval by director John McNaughton.

Wild Things had a previous release on Blu-ray in the very early days of the format, and those interested can look at the screenshots included in our original Wild Things Blu-ray review to make some comparisons, though that said, and again with tongue planted firmly in cheek, I'd suggest that there really is no comparison. What was a "3.5" to the original reviewer will look pretty obviously substandard to more contemporary high definition sensibilities, and in both general detail and especially palette reproduction, this Arrow release is in my estimation inarguably superior. The warmth of the palette is quite impressive, especially in the outdoor material, and detail levels are often quite appealing, though they admittedly can ebb slightly in some of the blue tinted nighttime or dimly lit interior scenes. There wasn't any substantial difference to my eyes between either the shared or "new" footage in the Unrated Edition when compared to the Original Theatrical Version. There are a couple of rough moments in and out of optical dissolves, but this is by and large a damage and dirt free presentation. Grain is nicely resolved throughout and I noticed no compression artifacts.

Wild Things Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Wild Things features a nicely boisterous DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that offers some nice immersion courtesy of a wealth of outdoor material (including some quasi-montages of Sam on an airboat), as well as George S. Clinton's propulsive score. A number of scenes which feature large groups of characters (like the opening assembly) also engage the side and rear channels effectively. Occasional outbursts of violence, including some gunshots, also contribute to the sonic energy of the film and are well presented on the track. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English subtitles are available.

Wild Things Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Original Theatrical Version (HD; 1:48:15) and Unrated Edition (HD; 1:54:47) are accessible via the Main Menu.


• Commentary by John McNaughton and Steven A. Jones


• Commentary by John McNaughton and Crew also includes cinematographer Jeffrey Kimball, producers Steven A. Jones and Rodney Liber, editor Elena Maganini and score composer George S. Clinton.


• Interview with John McNaughton (HD; 26:20)


• Interview with Denise Richards (HD; 14:04)


• On Set Interviews (HD*; 4:17) is an archival featurette with quite a bit of candid footage.


• "An Understanding Lawyer" Outtakes (HD; 00:27) looks like it's been upscaled.


• Trailer (HD; 2:23)


• Stills Gallery (HD)

Additionally, this is another handsomely packaged Limited Edition from Arrow, which includes an illustrated collector's booklet featuring essays by Anne Billson and Sean Hogan, a double sided fold out poster, six double sided postcard sized lobby card reproductions, a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Sam Hadley, with everything housed in a sturdy slipcase.

*720

Wild Things Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It had been years since I had seen Wild Things, and I have to say perhaps thankfully I remembered only a couple of its many developments, and I had an unexpectedly fun time revisiting this object lesson in "what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive". This new release from Arrow offers secure technical merits and some outstanding supplements. Recommended.