The Rewatchables

‘Wild Things’ With Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, and Mallory Rubin

43 snips
Feb 3, 2026
A deep dive into the 1998 erotic thriller’s casting, cultural moment, and notorious sex scenes. They unpack late‑90s sexual culture, nudity norms, and on‑set anecdotes about the motel threesome. Conversation covers tonal shifts from unexpected cameos, courtroom sleaze, plot twists, and how wardrobe and South Florida setting shape the film’s style.
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INSIGHT

Late‑90s Erotic Thriller Moment

  • Wild Things epitomizes the late-90s erotic thriller zeitgeist blending sex, camp, and black comedy.
  • The era's cultural looseness made movies trade on illicit sexual shock value for box-office buzz.
ANECDOTE

Teen Sleepover Staple

  • Van Lathan recalls Wild Things as a staple at sleepovers and parties in Reisterstown, MD.
  • He remembered only the sex scenes and not the actual plot until revisiting it as an adult.
INSIGHT

Internet Shifted Sex Off‑Screen

  • The rise of internet pornography shifted mainstream sexuality off screens and into private pockets.
  • That change reduced the mainstream market for erotic thrillers, which once traded on illicit visibility.
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