Kevin Bacon recently shared a disturbing behind-the-scenes moment from the set of his 1998 film Wild Things.
While promoting his new Prime Video series The Bondsman in a video interview with Variety, the 66-year-old Footloose star revisited some of his most iconic lines. As he recalled his role in Wild Things, Bacon revealed that the film’s crew once discovered a dead body during production.
“We were out in the swamp one night — a lot of mosquitoes, wow — and we were shooting some scene, I don’t remember what it was, by kind of a river,” Bacon said. “They had kind of floated a raft out there so that 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. “It was kind of indicative of the vibe of the movie.”
Director John McNaughton also recounted the incident in a past interview with Entertainment Weekly, revealing that it took place in a marsh in the Everglades. He explained that filming was temporarily paused while the crew waited for authorities to arrive and investigate the discovery.
According to McNaughton in EW’s 1998 Spring Movie Preview, the crew contacted police, who arrived and removed the body before it could appear in the camera’s frame.
Wild Things (1998) is a neo-noir thriller set in the affluent community of Blue Bay, Florida. The film follows high school guidance counselor Sam Lombardo, who is accused of rape by two students, Kelly Van Ryan and Suzie Toller. As the investigation unfolds, shocking twists and betrayals are revealed, exposing a complex web of lies, greed, and manipulation. Detective Ray Duquette works to uncover the truth behind the allegations, but nothing is as it seems. Known for its provocative plot and unexpected turns, the film explores themes of deception, revenge, and the blurred lines between innocence and guilt.
Wild Things featured a notable cast led by Kevin Bacon as Detective Ray Duquette and Matt Dillon as guidance counsellor Sam Lombardo. Neve Campbell played Suzie Toller, while Denise Richards starred as Kelly Van Ryan. Theresa Russell appeared as Kelly’s mother, Sandra Van Ryan, and Bill Murray took on the role of Kenneth Bowden, Lombardo’s eccentric lawyer. Directed by John McNaughton.
