Wild Things was one of the most popular erotic thrillers of the 90s and that was thanks to its sexy young cast and its many, many twists and turns. This plot had more twists than a pretzel! So you might be surprised to learn that there was a gay scene in the movie that was cut. What happened and what was supposed to happen? Let's skinvestigate.
First of all, the plot of 1998's Wild Things is just as wild as the title implies. Neve Campbell and Denise Richards played barely legal high school students who accuse their guidance counselor of inappropriate behavior towards them. Investigators dig into this case and discover that they might be getting played - by either the students or the counselor...or all three.
The film is best remembered for its "threesome" scene in which no one actually goes nude. The schoolgirls makeout while Matt Dillon pours champagne on their chests, making their T-shirts wet as the gals kiss each other. It was seductive and it remains highly sexual without really showing us much.
But what about the guys? There's nudity for us, too!
This film got a little bit of heat and intrigue by showing Kevin Bacon's meat in the movie. It's true! He has a shower scene where Matt Dillon approaches him and hands Kevin a towel as Kevin steps out of an ultra-steamy shower. This scene also had a lot of subtext. Were these characters lovers? Do they live together? Why is Matt Dillon able to hand the naked Kevin a towel after a shower? And why isn't he getting into the shower with him?
If you thought that this scene implied that the pair were a couple, then you were right. That was actually in the original script...and more!
In the script, the pair were a couple and they actually had a sex scene...or as much of a gay sex scene as a mainstream movie in the 90s would allow. I'm sure that meant kissing and shirtlessness along the lines of The Rules of Attraction or My Own Private Idaho. Allegedly, it was more than that. It was actually supposed to be a shared shower scene where the sexy guys get together amidst all the steam.
In the original script, Matt was supposed to enter and see Kevin in the shower. The men would look each other up and down with extreme thirst that needed to be quenched immediately. Matt would join Kevin in the shower and they wouldn't be able to keep their hands off each other! This actually sounds like it would have been pretty passionate and salacious - especially for 1998!
So what happened?! Director John McNaughton doesn't want to name names, but he said earlier this year that one of the stars pushed back on this. He decided to pick his battles with this one and keep the star happy rather than insist he do the scene and potentially lose the actor. He also said that the other actor was game. So who felt which way?!
It wasn't Kevin Bacon because Bacon later told the story another way, claiming it was the financiers who didn't like the idea of two men making out. He wanted to do it because he felt it fit the theme of the movie - secrets! - but they acquiesced to the investors.
Dillon also said that he was relieved the scene was cut, but tried making a joke that "Bacon seemed pretty attached to it, though!" Hmmmm. Not a cute quote, Dillon, but you're cute enough in the movie that I'll let it slide with some side-eye.
No matter what happened here, it sounds like Kevin Bacon was willing to eat! His go-to attitude proves that he is an actor I can get behind...and I love watching his behind.
