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

February 3, 2026 · Wild Things (1998) · Crime · Drama · Mystery · 2:15:21

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Bill Simmons▶ 17:37Discussed the impact of seeing the nudity on a large movie theater screen versus at home
Mallory Rubin▶ 16:41Kevin Bacon's contract stated no nudity, but he claimed he didn't realize he'd be naked in the movie and agreed to use the full nudity take when asked
Van Lathan▶ 16:55Kevin Bacon shows full frontal nudity - 'butt to penis' - and this was the pioneering dick scene in movies

Apex Mountain

Bill Simmons▶ 18:18Neve Campbell

Watch Party

Mallory Rubin▶ 22:55Emphasized the movie's inherent watchability and entertainment value, calling it 'so watchable' regardless of quality

Picking Nits

Craig Horlbeck▶ 47:19The famous pool scene where she takes her top off wasn't in the original theatrical cut, only in later unrated versions
Van Lathan▶ 45:43Questions whether Neve Campbell's character is hero or villain - she's mistreated for being from wrong side of tracks but also kills people

Slow Ride Award

Mallory Rubin▶ 58:11The 'I want what I want' needle drop

Teddy KGB Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:00:38Sandra — Considers Sandra for the Jed Nelson award (different movie) but concludes she's actually in this movie

Great Shot Gordo Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:07:03Discussed the pool scene and Dylan-Bacon reveal in shower as remarkable shots
Craig Horlbeck▶ 1:03:52Acknowledged Van's pick, saying 'I peeped that when I was in the theater'
Mallory Rubin▶ 1:04:44Discussed the motel threesome scene as most cinematic and meaningful, with genuine plot importance
Van Lathan▶ 1:04:01Matt Dillon as evil Superman - the shot of him with curly hair going 'yeah' with evil Superman Elvis look

What's Aged the Best

Bill Simmons▶ 1:12:27South Florida as a location for movies

Butch's Girlfriend Award

Mallory Rubin▶ 1:12:35States this is her candidate for weakest link but the statement is cut off mid-sentence

Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Mallory Rubin▶ 1:12:43South Florida is used very well as atmosphere and setting but not really underutilized for plot, though disappointed that alligators don't actually eat anybody
Van Lathan▶ 1:13:23Agrees the South Florida backdrop works well for the neo-noir sexiness and atmosphere, comparing it to how heat amplifies tension in movies like A Time to Kill

Den of Thieves Benihana Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:15:45Van Ryan home
Mallory Rubin▶ 1:15:49Van Ryan home - praised the house, balcony, guest house, gun cabinet, and boat dock
Van Lathan▶ 1:15:57Tropic Motel

What's Aged the Worst

Bill Simmons▶ 1:24:55A teacher accused of sleeping with multiple students - the entire plot premise and how it's handled
Van Lathan▶ 1:25:07How the school handles the accusations - allowing the teacher to remain while investigating instead of immediate consequences

Overacting Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:33:01Kevin Bacon — Kevin Bacon flipping out in the police station and going 'yeah you want to say that to my face?'
Mallory Rubin▶ 1:33:11Theresa Russell — Teresa Russell
Van Lathan▶ 1:33:17Made a comment about 'balls to the nearest wall' but unclear if this was his pick or just a reaction

Casting What-Ifs

Bill Simmons▶ 1:37:45Robert Downey Jr. — Discusses Robert Downey Jr. being originally cast as Sam but couldn't do it due to drug issues and injuries
Craig Horlbeck▶ 1:37:55Robert Downey Jr. — Robert Downey Jr. couldn't pull off seeming like a clean teacher - you would know he's dirty immediately
Van Lathan▶ 1:38:01Robert Downey Jr. — Robert Downey Jr. wouldn't work as Sam - his reputation would precede him and he's not dashing enough; would make more sense in the Kevin Bacon part

Is This Movie Better With

Bill Simmons▶ 1:59:43Wayne Jenkins as Kevin Bacon's character or as a dirty cop
Mallory Rubin▶ 1:59:47Wayne Jenkins as either the Ray Duquette character or another dirty cop looking into Ray

Memorabilia Award

Bill Simmons▶ 2:08:35Mentioned champagne bottle multiple times and Suzy's wig as candidates
Mallory Rubin▶ 2:08:39Sam's Educator of the Year trophy

Coach Finstock Life Lesson

Bill Simmons▶ 2:09:23People aren't always what they appear to be

Best Double Feature

Bill Simmons▶ 2:10:04Masquerade — Masquerade with Rob Lowe

Who Won the Movie

Bill Simmons▶ 2:10:54Denise Richards
Craig Horlbeck▶ 2:11:09Discussed the movie's entertainment value, twists, and praised famous actors doing B-movies, but didn't give a specific person as winner
Van Lathan▶ 2:10:55Denise Richards

Movies Referenced (45)

Scream (1996)

9 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 20:36IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Basic Instinct (1992)

5 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons▶ 5:12IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Angel Heart (1987)

4 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons▶ 44:52IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Fatal Attraction (1987)

4 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons▶ 5:02IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Hollow Man (2000)

4 mentions · Van Lathan▶ 2:06:51IMDb ↗Lb ↗

A Time to Kill (1996)

3 mentions · Van Lathan▶ 1:13:29IMDb ↗Lb ↗

American Pie (1999)

3 mentions · Mallory Rubin, Bill Simmons▶ 6:04IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Blade Runner (1982)

3 mentions · Mallory Rubin, Bill Simmons▶ 3:45IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Saltburn (2023)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 2:04:53IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Steve Jobs (2015)

3 mentions · Van Lathan▶ 25:46IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Armageddon (1998)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons, Mallory Rubin▶ 20:42IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Bad Boys (1995)

2 mentions · Van Lathan▶ 1:24:21IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Directors Referenced (3)

John McNaughton

3 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Wild Things, Mad Dog and Glory▶ 40:58IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Ken Russell

2 mentions · Van Lathan▶ 57:20IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Iyi Tubi

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Ex Machina, World War Z▶ 49:45IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Actors Referenced (81)

Neve Campbell

33 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Mallory Rubin · Known for Scream▶ 5:24IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Kevin Bacon

30 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Mallory Rubin · Known for Footloose, Hollow Man▶ 13:01IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Denise Richards

22 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Mallory Rubin · Known for The World Is Not Enough, Starship Troopers, Wild Things▶ 5:24IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Bill Murray

19 mentions · Bill Simmons, Mallory Rubin, Van Lathan · Known for Lost in Translation, Rushmore, Moonrise Kingdom▶ 37:52IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Matt Dillon

19 mentions · Bill Simmons, Mallory Rubin, Craig Horlbeck · Known for There's Something About Mary, Crash, Drugstore Cowboy▶ 31:44IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Saint Motel

9 mentions · Van Lathan, Mallory Rubin▶ 47:58IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Mia Goth

7 mentions · Van Lathan · Known for Frankenstein▶ 1:11:07IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Phoebe Cates

7 mentions · Mallory Rubin, Bill Simmons, Van Lathan · Known for Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Gremlins▶ 31:01IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Bruce Willis

6 mentions · Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, Mallory Rubin · Known for Die Hard, Pulp Fiction▶ 13:15IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Charlie Sheen

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Mallory Rubin, Craig Horlbeck · Known for Wall Street▶ 30:15IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Tom Hanks

5 mentions · Van Lathan, Bill Simmons · Known for Cast Away, Big, Forrest Gump▶ 32:29IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Walter Reed

5 mentions · Van Lathan, Mallory Rubin▶ 1:40:29IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Writers Referenced (3)

Ted Turner

4 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Angels in the Outfield▶ 2:00:15IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Roger Ebert

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 50:36IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Robert Kraft

1 mentions · Mallory Rubin · Known for The Little Mermaid▶ 1:12:19IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Cinematographers Referenced (1)

Todd Pacey

1 mentions · Mallory Rubin · Known for Den of Thieves: Pantera▶ 1:08:11IMDb ↗Lb ↗