# Wild Things (1998)

### reviewed by
Homer Yen

    Desirable "Wild Things"
    by Homer Yen
    (c) 1998

If controversial talk show host Jerry Springer, renowned for fighting guests and sensational subjects, ever wanted to live in a town that would provide an endless well of scheming characters and bizarre relationships, he might want to move into the upscale Florida enclave of Blue Bay. He could base an entire week of shows on Teacher of the Year, Sam Lombardo (Matt Dillon). When we first meet him, he appears to be one of the most earnest of people - forthright and constantly looking out for the interest of his students. We also meet two of his pupils. One is an underachieving, wrong-side-of-the-tracks Suzie Toller (Neve Campbell) and another is the richest girl in the community, Kelly Van Ryan (Denise Richards). But in noirish movies such as this, nothing is what it seems.

Immediately, we know that we are in for a strange movie experience. As the beginning credits roll, we are hypnotized with a pulsating drumbeat and guitar riffs that eerily twang for several measures. We also see opening scenes of the Floridian swamps and the crocodiles that lie in wait suggesting a place of bitter secrets. The filmmaker quickly establishes that we are in a place slightly skewed from reality.

Kelly has the blatant hots for Mr. Lombardo. She makes excuses to get close to him by asking for rides and washing his car. We eventually see Kelly standing in Lombardo's living room, dressed in a white shirt and white shorts, dripping wet after washing his car, and looking lustily at the surprised teacher. However, the scene quickly moves ahead and we see her leave the house, angry and distressed. What has happened? She tells her mom, who is an ex-lover of Lombardo and the most powerful person in Blue Bay, that she was raped. Infuriated, the police are summoned and the lead detective (Kevin Bacon) arrests the teacher. This entire setup, which takes about 45 minutes to develop, finally leads to a trial. After a surprise testimony, the film quickly moves from a stale drama to a psychological thriller for the remaining hour.

>From here, a new and twisted story begins to emerge, and this is where the real fun begins. However, it would be a crime for me to reveal to you anything more. But it becomes more engaging and amusingly campy as it progresses. Hidden motives emerge, unlikely alliances are discovered and manipulative mind games are played with such fervor that your movie-watching experience becomes almost voyeuristic.

"Wild Things" is like driving really fast down a winding country road at night without any headlights. You never know what's ahead of you but you find your trip reckless yet thrilling. This is the kind of movie that you'll either like or hate. There is no middle ground. There are surprises galore and the atmosphere is decidedly both libidinous and bent. For example, there is a hot three-way "love" scene that happens among the principal actors which will either appall you or cement the fact that this is a slick production about manipulation that heightens the psychologically twisted plot. "Wild Things" is trashy, bizarre, lurid, and demented. And I liked it.

    Grade: B-

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