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Wild Thing

Play trailer Poster for Wild Thing PG-13 Released Apr 17, 1987 1h 32m Action Play Trailer Watchlist
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33% Tomatometer 6 Reviews 58% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
The son of slain hippies grows up in the streets as a ghetto warrior called Wild Thing (Rob Knepper).
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Wild Thing

Critics Reviews

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Kurt Jacobsen Chicago Reader Wild Thing is a terribly sensitive and compassionate chap, just the sort who might eventually repel Jane — if she turned out to be a textbook case of “women who love too much.” Yeah, that would add suspense. Rated: 1/4 May 9, 2022 Full Review Mike Clark Washington Post Also involved are the local cops, exemplified by suspicious detective Ray Duquette (Kevin Bacon). Rated: 2.5/4 Jan 9, 2018 Full Review Walter Goodman New York Times [Max] Reid's direction is nearly incoherent in places, a relief from the coherent passages. The acting generally suits the material. May 21, 2003 Full Review Ed Travis Cinapse Fans of Tarzan or Batman or simply 1980s cinema should definitely seek out Wild Thing as a harmless curiosity, if not essential viewing. Feb 3, 2019 Full Review Frank Swietek One Guy's Opinion Rated: 2/5 Mar 18, 2004 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member Brilliant filmmaker John Sayles collects a paycheck on one of his screenwriter-for-hire gigs with this film about a child who witness his parents killed by a drug dealer and dirty cop, who is then left orphaned and is raised as alomost a feral child by a crazy homeless lady. Although most of John Sayles script doctor/yeoman jobs to finance his much smarter independent films are quite entertaining ("The Howling," "Alligator," and the original "Pirahna" to name a few) this one is pretty weak. I can only guess that what ended up on screen did not reflect Sayles original scrip. However, there are some seeds of interesting, though imprbable, story about a Tarzan-type figure living in the city as something of an urban legend, but the finished film is dull, lacks any mystery or interesting characters. There are a few good actors on hand, including Kathleen Quinlan as Jane and Maury Chaykin and Robert Davi as the bad guys which make it almost watchable. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member love, love, love this underrated urban tarzan flick from the 80s Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Where can I buy this mooooovie?!?!?!?!? Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Audience Member A rarely seen 80's classic, Kinda urban tarzan when a baby is left alone in the 'urban jungle' of a city and raised by a homeless crazy person after witnessing the murder of his parents by a corrupt cop and gangster. Is it dated yes but still enjoyable with some good performances by knepper and always excellent robert damn davi!! Quinlan is annoyin as hell but acceptable. Has some nice clever touches to wild things weapondry using various junk flouting around. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review Audience Member OMG! Emma Roberts reminds me so much of Julia Roberts its creepy... Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Audience Member John Sayles wrote the script of this sometimes clever, sometimes dumb beyond belief, urban take on Tarzan. It was set in a generic crumbling American metropolis but was actually filmed in Montreal. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/24/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Wild Thing

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Wild Thing

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Movie Info

Synopsis The son of slain hippies grows up in the streets as a ghetto warrior called Wild Thing (Rob Knepper).
Director
Max Reid
Producer
David Calloway, Nicolas Clermont
Screenwriter
John Sayles
Production Co
Atlantic Productions
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Action
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 17, 1987, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
May 17, 2017
Runtime
1h 32m
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