3485. Wild Things (1998)

Starring: Matt Dillon, Kevin Bacon, Neve Campbell

Director: John McNaughton

Running Time: 108 mins

Wild Things is an American film about a high school teacher who attempts to rebuild his life after he is falsely accused of raping a student of his.

After what seems like a rollercoaster of emotions in just the first half hour, it’s remarkable how Wild Things manages to build a gripping story full of exhilarating twists and turns right to the finish, complete with a collection of fantastic performances that make it a real nail-biter.

The film really hits the ground running from the get-go, as we follow Matt Dillon as a teacher falsely accused of accused of raping a student, and becoming embroiled in litigation that threatens to ruin his reputation and his life as a whole.

It’s an enthralling start to the movie that touches on some gripping and very challenging ideas, but what’s even more remarkable is that it’s all resolved within half an hour.

This is one of the things that makes Wild Things such a great movie. It’s a thrilling watch from the start, but after just the first act, you really don’t know what’s going to happen, as a series of bombshell twists throughout the story turn the entire thing on its head.

There’s not much that can be said here without spoiling the twists that make the film so exciting, but leads Matt Dillon, Neve Campbell, Kevin Bacon and more all play a big role in crafting what proves to be both a dark and devilishly entertaining thriller.

There are moments when Wild Things might seem a little outlandish, but such is the pace of the film and the regularity of its biggest twists that you can’t help but be sucked in by its enthralling screenplay and magnetic leads. So, that’s why I’m giving the film a 7.5 overall.