A sex thriller? Well, kinda, but not really. While the commercials, previews, and posters shift the focus mostly to Denise Richards curves, there is actually intelligence behind what could easily have been an airhead thriller.
Starring Matt Dillon, Neve Campbell, the above-mentioned Richards, and Kevin Bacon (also serving as executive producer), Wild Things is a wild ride through a web of deciet, betrayal, and so many plot twists you'll wish you had an asprin.
Without revealing too much (like Richards does in the film), the story behind the film goes as such: Dillon plays a popular and attractive guidance councellor at the high-school in a small Floridian coast town. Richards and Campbell both play students at the school but with strikingly different attitudes. Richards is the belle of the school, daughter of the town's most wealthy (who practically run everything there), and has the hots for the councellor. Rejected once too many times by Dillon, Richards cries rape and sets the town afire. Dillon's entire life comes crashing down only after Campbell, a quiet, angry, troubled girl who can't seem to get a break in life, also comes forth with similar charges. Enter Bacon, who plays a local official suspecting something is up. Digging deep, the detective finds what he needs to help Dillon's case.
When the court date arrives, Campbell breaks down after a gruelling grilling from Dillon's lawyer (in what's probably Bill Murray's best ever performance), confessing that the two accusers had made it up to get back at Dillon, each for their own twisted reasons (plot twist no. 1).
The case dismissed and his life in shambles, Murray convinces Dillon to sue Richard's wealthy family for five million bucks, which is, of course, successful. But plot twist no. 2 arises as it turns out that Dillon, Richards and Campbell are a trio of lovers who worked together to orchestrate the hoax. Bacon, again suspecting something's up, tries to expose the manage-a-trio, only to find his precinct unwilling to co-operate. And that's just the first 40 minutes!
Believe me when I tell you, so much stuff happens afterwords that it will make your head hurt trying to figure out what's actually going on. It's all revealed cleanly enough, it's just very complex (and, I'll say it, brilliant, including the closing credits which share with the audience all the secrets of the deceptions). With great performances from all, excellent direction, a sly sence of humour, and equal gener nudity, this film does have it all. A guaranteed enjoyable must see film.