Amazon.com video review:
Wild Things is the kind of lurid, trashy thriller that
you'll either dive into with unabashed pleasure or turn away from in
prudish disgust; it's entirely your choice, but we suggest the former
option since it's obviously much more fun. The plot's so convoluted
it's hardly worth describing, except to say that it's set in humid
Florida and involves a respected high school teacher (Matt
Dillon--yes, Matt Dillon as a teacher!) who is faced with accusations
of rape by a student (Denise Richards, from Starship Troopers)
who had been giving him the kind of attention most people would
consider improper for such a "nice" young lady. Another student (Neve
Campbell) raises a similar charge against the teacher, and that's when
a police officer (Kevin Bacon) begins to investigate the
allegations. Just when you think the movie's gone overboard with its
shameless sex and absurdly twisted plot, in drops Bill Murray as an
unscrupulous lawyer (of course) to spice things up with insurance
scams and welcomed comic relief. As directed by John McNaughton (who
has a way of making just the right moves with this kind of film
noir melodrama), Wild Things is a bona fide guilty
pleasure--the kind of movie you may be ashamed to enjoy, but what the
heck, you'll enjoy it anyway. --Jeff Shannon
