Wild at Heart Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		3.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

Wild at Heart Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov August 29, 2026

David Lynch's "Wild at Heart" (1990) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Imprint Films. The supplemental features on the release include exclusive new audio commentary by producer Monty Montgomery; exclusive new program with Wilem Dafoe; exclusive new program with editor Duwayne Dunham; exclusive new program with casting director Johanna Ray; archival program with novelist Barry Gifford; archival cast and crew interviews; archival documentaries; vintage promotional materials; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Note: The text below was initially used in our review of the first British release of Wild at Heart, produced by Universal in 2010.

Sailor Ripley (Nicolas Cage) and Lula Fortune (Laura Dern) are madly in love. Lula’s mother, Marietta (Diane Ladd), a crazy Southern belle past her prime with a serious drinking problem, doesn't like it at all. In a desperate attempt to push Sailor away from her daughter, Marietta offers to have sex with him, and then hires an assassin (J.E. Freeman) to take him out. However, Sailor rejects the bad offer and beats the assassin's brains out. While he is in jail, Lula patiently waits for him.

A couple of years later, Sailor gets out and offers to take Lula from North Carolina to California. They would also stop in New Orleans -- to try a few of those famous fried banana sandwiches and listen to some good old-fashioned jazz.

While heading West, Lula decides to send her mother a postcard to let her know that she is doing well. Marietta goes berserk and immediately asks two ex-lovers, Johnny Farragut (Harry Dean Stanton), a lousy private investigator, and Marcelles Santos (J. E. Freeman), a perverted goon who may or may not have something to do with her husband's death, to go after the lovers and take out Sailor. Johnny agrees, assuming that once the job is done, he will get to have some fun with Marietta, just like the old days when they were young and in love, while Marcelles tells Marietta he will help her if she finally lets him deal with Johnny.

After a short trip to New Orleans, Sailor and Lula end up in Big Tuna, Texas, where Sailor befriends Bobby Peru (Willem Dafoe), a nasty character paid to kill him, while Lula gets a nasty stomach flu. Shortly after, Sailor and Bobby agree to rob a local bank.

David Lynch's Wild at Heart premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 1990, where it won the prestigious Palme d'Or award. A year later, it earned an Oscar nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Diane Ladd).

Like most Lynch films, Wild at Heart has colorful characters with fascinating secrets. From afar, most of them look like normal people. However, they do things normal people don't and end up in places normal people wouldn't. Needless to say, they also have experiences most normal people don’t.

Also like most Lynch films, Wild at Heart blends contrasting material that would be utterly incompatible in other films. One is dark and disturbing. The other is light, often incredibly hilarious, and sometimes surprisingly witty. The masterful blending of this contrasting material is what makes Wild at Heart a memorable, seriously enjoyable genre film.

Lynch adapted Wild at Heart from Barry Gifford’s pulp-noir novel “Wild at Heart: The Story of Sailor and Lula”, published in 1990. Several years later, Lynch and Gifford collaborated on Lost Highway, which initially received extremely polarizing reviews.

After it was featured in Wild at Heart, Chris Isaak’s song Wicked Game became an international sensation. The original soundtrack also features two quirky tracks sung by Cage, various classic and modern tracks, and original music composed by frequent Lynch collaborator Angelo Badalamenti.

Wild at Heart Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Wild at Heart arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Imprint Films.

I have only one release of Wild at Heart in my library. It is this British release, produced by Universal in 2010. It offers a pretty good presentation of the film. However, it is sourced from an old master with some obvious limitations. For example, in most darker areas, the grain becomes rather noisy, and in a few places it obstructs smaller nuances. Additionally, tiny blemishes, nicks, and specks frequently appear, and in some brighter daylight footage, they are absolutely impossible to miss. However, this master still easily produces visuals with good delineation, clarity, and depth because it is free of problematic digital corrections. Furthermore, color reproduction and balance are quite nice. A few supporting nuances can be rebalanced, but there are no major anomalies, and the entire film has a convincing period appearance. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

Wild at Heart Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and English LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.

I revisited Wild at Heart with the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. It is a solid track. It does not have any major age-related anomalies that impact the viewing experience in a serious way. Perhaps the upper register can be slightly more consistent, but it is very difficult to tell whether any enhancements are needed. Clarity, sharpness, and depth are very nice. Dynamic contrasts are fine, too.

Wild at Heart Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary - in this exclusive new audio commentary, producer Monty Montgomery explains how he became involved with Wild at Heart, and recalls his initial interactions with David Lynch, the shooting process (which started in Los Angeles), his relationship with Barry Gifford, and how various actors were cast. Later, Montgomery also comments on the style of Wild at Heart and some of the more risque material in it.

• Escape to Peru - in this exclusive new program, Willem Dafoe reveals how he landed his part in Wild at Heart, how he prepared for it while interacting with David Lynch, and how he felt during the shooting process. Dafoe also comments on his relationship with Nic Cage, and reveals that during the filming of their bar scene, Cage went too far with the alcohol that his character was enjoying. In English, not subtitled. (15 min).

• No Going Back: The Chaos of Cutting Wild at Heart - in this exclusive new program, editor Duwayne Dunham reveals that his first introduction to David Lynch was through Stanley Kubrick, who apparently screened Eraserhead for him and George Lucas in London. Dunham also reveals how his professional relationship with Lynch started with Blue Velvet and comments on the editing of Wild at Heart. Dunham explains why Lynch and Lucas are very similar filmmakers as well. In English, not subtitled. (23 min).

• Runaways, Rebels, and Ramblers: Casting Wild at Heart - in this exclusive new program, casting director Johanna Ray states that she began casting for horror films and David Lynch gave her career the boost it needed. Apparently, Ray met Lynch because of her work on Red Sonja. Later, Ray reveals that Lynch did not like meeting actors and frequently cast them while only looking at their photos. In English, not subtitled. (16 min).

• The Strange and Wild Voyage of Sailor and Lula - in this program, novelist Barry Gifford confirms that he wanted to describe the relationship between Sailor and Lula as a true love story, consumed by a mad and violent environment, and comments on David Lynch's interpretation of it. Gifford also explains why he and Lynch saw the two lovers as "pure products" but in Wild at Heart they are portrayed differently. Later, Gifford also has some interesting comments about the narration in Wild at Heart and his novel. In English, not subtitled. (31 min).

• Love, Death, Elvis & Oz: The Making of Wild at Heart - this archival program, examines the conception and production of Wild at Heart, as well as the unique qualities of its famous characters. Included in it are clips from interviews with David Lynch, Nic Cage, Laura Dern, Diane Ladd, Willem Dafoe, novelist Barry Gifford. and editor Duwayne Dunham, amongst others. In English, not subtitled. (30 min).

• Dell's Lunch Counter - presented here are extended interview segments with novelist Barry Gifford, Diane Ladd, David Lynch, cinematographer Frederick Elmes, and Willem Dafoe, amongst others. In English, not subtitled. (22 min).

• Specific Spontaneity: Focus on Lynch - this archival program takes a closer look at David Lynch's creative ideas and working methods. Included in it are clips from interviews with cinematographer Frederick Elmes, Willem Dafoe, Laura Dern, Sheryl Lee, and casting director Johanna Ray, amongst others. In English, not subtitled. (8 min).

• David Lynch on the DVD - in this archival program, David Lynch comments on the importance of color-correcting and explains why it is important to get color values right on home video release/DVD. Lynch also comments on the color-correction adjustments on the high-definition master used to prepare the old DVD release of Wild at Heart, produced by MGM. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Making of Featurette - this archival EPK was prepared by MGM. It features clips from interviews with David Lynch, Nic Cage, Laura Dern, Willem Dafoe, and Isabella Rossellini, as well as raw footage from the shooting of Wild at Heart. In English, not subtitled. (7 min).

• Uncensored Scene - presented here is a slightly longer, uncensored version of a scene with Bobby Peru. In English, not subtitled. (1 min).

• Trailer - presented here is a remastered vintage trailer for Wild at Heart. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

• TV Spots - presented here are a few vintage TV spots for Wild at Heart. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

• Isolated Music and Effects Track - presented as Dolby Digital 2.0.

• Hardback Booklet - an exclusive 126-page hardback booklet containing production stills and essays from Walter Chaw on Wild At Heart, Travis Woods on Unlawful Entry, Patrick Bromley on The Getaway, Blake Howard on Mulholland Falls, Jerry J. Sampson on Freeway, and Roxana Hadadi on City of Industry, as well as technical credits.

Wild at Heart Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The massive selection of exclusive new and archival bonus features makes this release of Wild at Heart extremely easy to recommend. It is sourced from an older master, but the film still looks quite good on it. In America, Criterion has announced an exclusive new 4K restoration that will be made available on 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray before the end of the year, but both releases will have different supplemental features. Wild at Heart is included in Imprint Films' After Dark: Neo-Noir Cinema Collection Four box set. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.