Kevin Bacon shares a bizarre behind-the-scenes moment from the 1998 thriller, as director John McNaughton confirms production was halted while police retrieved the corpse
Washington [US], April 15: In a truly surreal behind-the-scenes revelation, actor Kevin Bacon opened up about a chilling and bizarre incident that occurred while filming the 1998 cult thriller Wild Things — the crew discovered a dead body floating by on set.
“We were out in the swamp one night — a lot of mosquitoes, wow — and we were shooting some scene by kind of a river,” Bacon told People. “They had floated a raft out there so they could put a light. All of a sudden I hear across the walkie-talkie: ‘Hey, I think I just saw a floater.’ And it was a body that was floating by.”
Laughing in disbelief, Bacon added, “It was kind of indicative of the vibe of the movie,” which was already known for its dark, edgy plot twists.
Director John McNaughton confirmed the wild tale, saying the discovery happened while filming in a marsh in the Florida Everglades. “We called the police, and they actually grabbed the body and kept it from getting into our shot,” McNaughton said, noting that production was briefly halted while authorities conducted an investigation.
Wild Things, which starred Bacon alongside Neve Campbell, Matt Dillon, and Denise Richards, follows a twisted tale of seduction and deception involving high school students and a suspicious guidance counselor. The film became infamous for its steamy scenes and unpredictable plot turns.
Bacon also recalled another twist from the original script that never made it to the screen — a same-sex kiss between his character, Detective Ray Duquette, and Matt Dillon’s character.
“In the original script, we start making out,” he said. “That was part of what was crazy about the movie — all these twists. To me, that was a great twist.”
However, the moment was ultimately cut. “I don’t think we shot it,” Bacon added. “I think it just got cut.”
With its mix of noir, suspense, and steamy scandal — and now a morbid real-life twist — Wild Things continues to surprise fans, decades after its release.