Something Wild

1986 Directed by Jonathan Demme

Something Different. Something Daring. Something Dangerous.

A free-spirited woman "kidnaps" a yuppie for a weekend of adventure. But the fun quickly takes a dangerous turn when her ex-con husband shows up.

Jeff Daniels Melanie Griffith Ray Liotta George 'Red' Schwartz Margaret Colin Leib Lensky Tracey Walter Maggie T. Patricia Falkenhain Sandy McLeod Robert Ridgely Buzz Kilman Kenneth Utt Adelle Lutz Charles Napier Jim Roche John Sayles John Waters The Texas Kid Byron D. Hutcherson Eleana Hutcherson Thomas Cavano Dorothy Demme Emma Byrne Dana Preu Max the Dog Mary Ardella Drew Joseph Lee Davis Edward Saxon Show All…

114 mins More details at IMDb TMDb Report this film

Popular reviews

Review by Patrick Willems ★★★★ 1

A movie that explores one of my greatest fears: having no cash at a restaurant that doesn't take credit cards
Review by Calum Marsh ★★★★★ 5

Not really a review of this movie but RIP Jonathan Demme all the same.
There is a wonderful moment in Something Wild, Jonathan Demme’s freewheeling screwball road movie and just about my favourite movie of all time, in which our newly cut-loose yuppie hero, Charles Driggs (Jeff Daniels), in covert hot pursuit of the girl he loves (Melanie Griffith) and the ex-con tough (Ray Liotta) who stole her from him, installs himself in the parking lot of an all-black church in Virginia with a snack and a pair of binoculars, training a tired eye on his marks as they lounge about the pool at a motel across the road. Exhausted, Charlie takes a nap — only to be stirred from…
Review by David Sims ★★★★½ 3

better to be a live dog than a dead lion
Review by Sally Jane Black 10

Yes, the soundtrack is great.
The scene where Charlie shows up at the diner and confronts Ray, though, made me so fucking angry. He shows up, and instead of saying, "hey Lulu, let's go, ditch this guy," he speaks to Ray. He says he's taking her back; he spars with Ray over Lulu as if Lulu isn't even there, as if she is literally an object he has to acquire. It's tiresome. Lulu tries hard to redeem the film a few minutes later, throwing Charlie out of the car by the railroad tracks, but of course it doesn't end there. It lets him off the hook. That act of independence is swallowed.
And there's a fight scene with the death…
Review by fran hoepfner ★★★★

makes a really compelling case for bringing some rando normie with me to my high school reunion
Review by Timcop ★★★½ 2

Never go with Ray Liotta to a second location.
Review by laird ★★★★

Three reasons:
1. Ray Liotta: underrated kicker of the silver screen.
2. I would have gone to my 10 year reunion if The Feelies were playing.
3. All the ordinary people that populate this world.
Review by Sam Van Hallgren ★★★★ 3

If I could go back in time, I would arrange to see this in, say, 1991, when I was 17, so it could blow my mind and forever become a favorite. Like Hollywood funded a Jarmusch adaptation of Wedekind's Lulu plays. Twenty some years too late, but still a joy. The pleasures of the film at this late date are as much about the experience of watching it as it is the film itself. The fact of Melanie Griffith - startling in her youthful beauty and her raw, instinctive talent. Liotta giving the ur-Liotta performance - menacing and charismatic and hilarious. Daniels so sincere and so damn likable. The transition to the closing credits sequence is maybe one of the most perfect and glorious things ever. Demme. What a fascinating cat. And even streaming on Netflix, you just get woozy with the celluloid look of the thing. A treasure.
Review by Monday Seagull 3

This was the most exhilarating moment of the Eighties.
There are only a handful of films in our lives which actually change us. Movies with a distinct line between before and after. Pictures which awaken something; make us feel as if we're different people the next day.
I'm not just talking about your favourite movies though...
I'm talking about that first cut where you needed stitches; I'm talking about the first time you saw a dead body; I'm talking about the first time a girl stuck her tongue in your mouth; I'm talking about the first time you listened to The Velvet Underground & Nico; I'm talking about your grade four field trip to the Ontario Science Centre, where you got…
Review by Joe Lynch ★★★★★ 1

Masterpiece. Definite example of “offbeat” cinema with Demme finding his narrative voice and Griffith & Daniels creating THE couple of the 80’s (sorry Nora).
Ray Liotta’s first and most terrifying role.
Also: shot near my childhood hometown in Long Island!
To me? A perfect film.
Review by Joe ★★★★★

"Then this is the stuff you drink for a hangover."
This has Demme checking off every commercial box he had to - there's a milquetoast hero, a manic pixie dream girl, a psycho villain, fights, redemption, thrills, spills, chills - but it's like he's using weird (wild?)-shaped checkmarks nobody else ever thought of before.
Ray Liotta's performance here is why acting was invented.
Review by Sophy ★★★★★

I don't think there exists a character more endearing than Charles (Jeff Daniels) in all the land of cinema. Equally so, I'd be hard pressed to name a character more sympathetic than Audrey (Melanie Griffith). Combining these two characters in one film is almost unbearably charming. The power dynamic is constantly shifting between them, which makes it endlessly riveting to watch and experience as they reveal more of their flaws and vulnerabilities to one another. Their desire for each other goes beyond romance and lust. It is imperative that the two of them meet in order to move on from their painful pasts.
"I'm setting you free." -- "Maybe I don't want to be free."
Each shot seems to be…

Recent reviews

Review by Michael Benson ★★★★★

Another perfect movie from the 80s. Realistic and grounded in its presentation. Freaking love Ray Liotta In This. One of the best romantic movies ever.
Review by andersoncrook ★★★★★

Rewatched in preparation for a multi-state single day road trip...and it worked!
Review by lucy ★★★★½

this is actually a masterpiece. every single one of jeff daniels’ outfits, the slow motion, score…ray liotta “hiya charlie” jump scare? please!
Review by AlmostHankin

holy FUCK this good movie is so good
Review by Austin Burgos ★★★★½

Title checks out.
Review by Yunus ★★★½

Film başladığında Chungking Express izlerken yaşadığım şeyi yaşadım. Başlangıcı o kadar mükemmeldi ki, beni resmen ekrana kilitledi. Fakat maalesef ikinci yarısında düşüş gösterdi, istemediğim bir yere evrildi film. Yani gerçek anlamda film Chungking Express kopyası gibi. Bu beni cidden üzdü, çok büyük potansiyel kaçmış. İlk yarısının ve şahane müziklerinin hatrına 7 veriyorum..
Review by Claire ★★★★

I haven’t heard people yell “Charlie” this much since I saw the Pope of Greenwich Village
Review by Splavacato ★★★

It was alright, Thought it would be better.
Review by carolynmichelle ★★★★

What a journey. What energy. That Jonathan Demme sure could direct a movie.
Review by emma :) ★★★★½

this was very epic
Review by filmmanic

You were right. I'm a rebel. I am! I just channelled my rebellion into the mainstream.
Review by ChandlrJoeyRoss ★★★½ 1

Ray Liotta is really good in this!