On this day April 17, 1987, the urban action drama Wild Thing premiered in theaters. Directed by Max Reid, the film starred Robert Knepper as a mysterious vigilante raised on the streets after witnessing his parents’ murder. Kathleen Quinlan co starred as a social worker who tries to understand and help the man known only as Wild Thing.
The movie offered a modern twist on the jungle hero myth, blending gritty street crime with comic book style justice. Dressed in scraps and using urban survival skills, Wild Thing took on gangs, drug dealers, and corrupt officials in a decaying city environment. Despite its unique concept, the film struggled at the box office, earning just 84,000 dollars, but it developed a small cult following for its offbeat tone and outsider hero angle.
Fun fact: The screenplay was written by John Sayles, known for his work on more grounded and socially conscious films, giving Wild Thing a surprising dose of commentary beneath the action.
Trivia question: What 1987 film featured a street raised vigilante who fights crime in a decaying city and starred Robert Knepper and Kathleen Quinlan?
The movie offered a modern twist on the jungle hero myth, blending gritty street crime with comic book style justice. Dressed in scraps and using urban survival skills, Wild Thing took on gangs, drug dealers, and corrupt officials in a decaying city environment. Despite its unique concept, the film struggled at the box office, earning just 84,000 dollars, but it developed a small cult following for its offbeat tone and outsider hero angle.
Fun fact: The screenplay was written by John Sayles, known for his work on more grounded and socially conscious films, giving Wild Thing a surprising dose of commentary beneath the action.
Trivia question: What 1987 film featured a street raised vigilante who fights crime in a decaying city and starred Robert Knepper and Kathleen Quinlan?
