They’re dying to play with you.|Mar. 20, 1998|USA|108 Min.|R
Genre: 4K-2160p;Drama;Mystery;Thriller
Description: In the affluent Miami suburb of Blue Bay, high school guidance counselor Sam Lombardo faces accusations of rape from two students. Wealthy Kelly Van Ryan is the first to allege the crime, followed by Suzie Toller, a classmate from a poor Everglades family. Sam hires attorney Kenneth Bowden to defend him in court. During the trial, Suzie confesses that the allegations were fabricated as part of a revenge scheme. She admits that she and Kelly conspired to falsely accuse Sam—Suzie for his failure to help her with a minor drug charge and Kelly for his affair with her mother, Sandra Van Ryan. Sam and Kenneth negotiate an $8.5 million defamation settlement, paid by Sandra from a trust fund meant for Kelly. However, it is later revealed that Sam, Kelly, and Suzie were accomplices in a plot to extort money from Sandra.
Detective Ray Duquette suspects foul play and believes the trio is orchestrating a scam. Despite pressure from the district attorney’s office, he continues his investigation. Ray informs Kelly and Suzie that Sam has already transferred the settlement money offshore. Suzie panics and turns to Kelly, who reassures her but secretly contacts Sam, suggesting they eliminate Suzie. In a dramatic poolside confrontation, Suzie and Kelly fight but later reconcile, unaware that Ray is watching. Later, at the beach, Sam appears to kill Suzie, and he and Kelly dispose of her body in the swamp.
Ray and his partner, Detective Gloria Perez, investigate Suzie’s disappearance. Evidence of her blood and teeth is found at the beach, and her abandoned car is discovered at a bus terminal. Despite the D.A.’s insistence to drop the case, Ray persists and asks Gloria to monitor Sam. Sam shares Kelly’s school records with Gloria, hinting at her troubled and violent nature. Meanwhile, Ray confronts a visibly frightened Kelly at her home.
Cast director: John McNaughton
Cast actor: Kevin Bacon, Matt Dillon, Neve Campbell, Denise Richards, Theresa Russell, Bill Murray, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Robert Wagner, Carrie Snodgress, Jeff Perry
Original name: Wild Things