Movie Review: Something Wild (1986)

★★★★★

It starts like a date movie, ends like a thriller, and somehow makes both work. I can’t think of another film quite like it.

Amy L.

Alabama

Some movies feel like they were designed in a lab to fit neatly into a category: comedy, romance, action, thriller. Something Wild laughs at that idea and throws the whole genre rulebook out the window. Directed by Jonathan Demme, it’s a movie that starts as a quirky romantic comedy, shifts into a screwball road trip, and then slides almost imperceptibly into a tense, suspenseful thriller.

As a reviewer for BoxReview.com, I can tell you this isn’t just a “movie with a twist.” It’s a film that reinvents itself multiple times without losing its core, and that’s part of what makes it such a standout in 80s cinema.

The Premise: From Lunch to Life-Changing Adventure

We meet Charlie Driggs (Jeff Daniels), an uptight New York City businessman who seems perfectly content living a safe, predictable life. Enter Lulu (Melanie Griffith), a mysterious woman in a black bob wig who “kidnaps” Charlie, though not against his will, for an impulsive road trip.

What starts as a breezy, rebellious getaway turns into something far more dangerous when Lulu’s real identity, Audrey, and her violent ex-husband, Ray (Ray Liotta), enter the picture. By the end, the tone has shifted so completely that you almost forget how the movie began.

Jeff Daniels: The Perfect Everyman

Daniels’ performance as Charlie is one of the film’s secret weapons. In the beginning, he plays the straight man to Griffith’s chaos, a guy whose main rebellion is skipping out on a lunch bill. But as the movie progresses, Daniels lets you see the layers: Charlie’s regret over past mistakes, his growing attraction to Lulu/Audrey’s unpredictability, and his eventual willingness to step up when things get dangerous.

It’s worth noting how well Daniels handles the tonal shift; he doesn’t suddenly turn into an action hero, but he finds a believable, relatable courage.

Melanie Griffith: The Shape-Shifter

Griffith’s Lulu/Audrey is a character who changes before your eyes, and not just because of the wig. In the first act, she’s pure fantasy: flirty, reckless, and a little dangerous in a fun way. But when her past catches up with her, Griffith reveals a more vulnerable, grounded side.

Most reviews praise her performance (and rightly so), but what’s often overlooked is how much control she has over the movie’s shifts in tone. She’s the reason those changes feel organic rather than jarring.

Ray Liotta’s Electrifying Debut

If you’ve only ever seen Ray Liotta in Goodfellas or other mob roles, his performance as Ray Sinclair might feel familiar, but here, it’s even more unpredictable because it’s his first major film role.

Liotta doesn’t play Ray as a one-note villain. He’s charming and funny when he wants to be, which makes his sudden bursts of violence all the more unsettling. It’s that unpredictability that cranks up the tension in the final act.

Jonathan Demme’s Direction: Humanizing the Chaos

Demme was known for blending warmth with danger, and Something Wild is a prime example. Even as the stakes escalate, he never loses sight of the characters as people. You feel Charlie’s awkwardness, Lulu’s loneliness, and Ray’s volatility in ways that make the plot feel grounded, even when it’s veering into wild territory.

What’s less often discussed is Demme’s use of location. The shift from bustling New York to small-town Americana mirrors the movie’s tonal evolution, giving the sense that the farther we get from Charlie’s comfort zone, the more unpredictable things become.

The Soundtrack: A Perfect Match for the Mood Swings

The music in Something Wild isn’t just background noise; it’s a tonal compass. From David Byrne’s quirky title track to reggae and rockabilly numbers, the soundtrack evolves alongside the story.

By the time the mood darkens, the score follows suit, swapping playful rhythms for something more menacing. It’s a subtle cue that the movie is no longer playing by rom-com rules.

Underappreciated Elements

Character Arcs Hidden in the Chaos: While Charlie’s transformation is obvious, Lulu’s journey is quieter. She goes from hiding behind an alter ego to revealing her real self, not just to Charlie, but to herself.

The Comedy in the First Half: The film’s early humor is sharper than it gets credit for. The awkward motel scenes, Charlie’s failed attempts at being “bad,” and the offbeat supporting characters feel like a Demme rehearsal for the quirkier moments in Married to the Mob.

The Seamless Genre Shift: Many films that attempt a hard tonal shift stumble. Something Wild makes it feel like the natural consequence of the story, a lighthearted game that was always bound to turn serious once real emotions and real danger got involved.

Why Something Wild Still Works Today

Modern audiences are used to genre mashups, but Something Wild still feels fresh because it’s so confident in its changes. It’s not afraid to let its characters and its audience sit in discomfort.

The film also benefits from its cast’s chemistry. Daniels, Griffith, and Liotta feel like they’re in three different movies at times, yet Demme finds a way to make those styles collide without breaking the story.

Final Thoughts

Something Wild isn’t a movie you can sum up with a single genre label, and that’s the point. It’s a romantic comedy, a road trip movie, a crime thriller, and a character study all rolled into one.

If you’ve never seen it, go in blind and let it surprise you. If you have seen it, watch it again and pay attention to how smoothly it changes gears. That’s where the real magic is.