John McNaughton is one of the most underrated directors of his generation. He made a splash on the scene with the serial killer drama Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986) and continued from there with the sci-fi/horror classic The Borrower (1991) and the true crime drama Normal Life (1996). Each film is distinctly different from the next in content and style. Hollywood eventually took notice, and he landed gigs like comedy Mad Dog and Glory (1993) with Robert De Niro, Uma Thurman, and Bill Murray. It was his 1998 feature that would give him a major boost, a film so insanely crazy that it continues to dazzle audiences. It also spawned three (in name only) sequels. The film in question is the sexy crime thriller, Wild Things.
Sam Lombardo (Matt Dillon) is a guidance counselor at a high school in Miami. His life is about to be turned upside down when students Kelly Van Ryan (Denise Richards) and Suzie Toller (Neve Campbell) accuse him of rape. Once it goes to trial, it’s revealed that the girls were lying, and Sam wins a defamation lawsuit worth millions. The girls were in on the scam with Sam, but Sergeant Ray Duquette (Kevin Bacon) suspects the three may be in on it together. He digs deep into their lives to discover the truth behind the entire twisted situation.
I’ve always been very fond of Wild Things for several reasons. First and foremost, the cast is astonishing. Dillon, Richards, Bacon, and Campbell all had an undeniable chemistry that keeps you invested in this group and the shenanigans they find themselves in. The supporting cast of Theresa Russell, Robert Wagner, and, of course, Bill Murray with his memorable handful of screen minutes. Secondly, McNaughton’s directing is so concise you never for a minute doubt the story. Regardless of all the twists and turns, he makes every moment count.
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By now, you either love or hate Wild Things, but this UHD set from Arrow is outstanding. The film’s restoration is colorful and vibrant, the sound mix pulls you into this insane world, and you can decide which cut of the movie you want to view. A few carryover features from previous releases include the audio commentary with McNaughton, cinematographer Jeffrey Kimball, producers Steven A. Jones and Rodney Liber, editor Elena Maganini, and score composer George S. Clinton. It also features a brand spanking new commentary track with Jones and McNaughton. There’s even a new interview with McNaughton and one with Denise Richards.
The packaging is beautiful, with a foldout poster of the new artwork and a booklet with a couple of really insightful and informative essays. If this is meant to be the definitive edition of Wild Things, you really couldn’t ask for anything more. This is a stunning release from Arrow Video.
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