David Lynch delivers a "stunning piece of work" (Chicago Tribune) with this "flamboyantly violent and erotic" (The Village Voice) tale of love on the run Â? now remastered under LynchÂ's supervision with upgraded... more » picture and sound. Featuring the "formidable performances" (Leonard Maltin) of Nicolas Cage, Laura Dern, Willem Dafoe, Crispin Glover and Diane Ladd, Wild at Heart is a twisted "rollercoaster ride to redemption through an American gothic heart of darkness" (Variety). If Lula (Dern) knows one thing in this world, itÂ's that sheÂ's destined to be with her ex-con boyfriend Sailor (Cage) Â? no matter how many times her mama tries to kill him. But when she and Sailor finally hit the road in a desperate bid to find happiness, their journey plunges them into a disturbing underworld filled with sexual secrets and dangerous desires that form a terrifying "tapestry of human extremity" (Variety).« less
Sharon F. (Shar) from AVON PARK, FL Reviewed on 11/5/2022...
An oldie but goodie! A little way out there and disturbing in parts, but well done.
1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.
K. K. (GAMER) Reviewed on 10/7/2022...
Really weird and then got even weirder when Willem Dafoe showed up. Nicholas Cage, Laura Dern, Willem Dafoe, Diane Ladd, Harry Dean Stanton rocked this one all the way until the ending! A must watch but watch who your audience will be attending!
1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Gloria B. (glowbird) from SPOKANE, WA Reviewed on 10/13/2018...
This was a disturbing, repulsive film that should be rated X. It is a violent, misogynistic film. Roger Ebert reviewed the film in 1990. He hit all of the key reasons to not watch the film, and maybe goes a long way to analyze Lynch's intensions. Have to admit I am not a fan of Lynch's films. https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/wild-at-heart-1990
3 of 4 member(s) found this review helpful.
Aaron F. from SANTA ROSA, CA Reviewed on 2/5/2011...
I am naming my firstborn son Sailor if that tells you anything. Best. Movie. Ever. My only 5 star rating of hundreds. Dafoe is stunning. Dern and her maternal Mother are perfect.They dont make 'em like this anymore, I'll never swap out my copy.
2 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.
Movie Reviews
Direct, disturbing access to the mind of David Lynch.
William A. Otis | Indiana, USA | 11/21/1998
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Wild at Heart is less a movie and more a psychological journey. It's hard for me to judge it the way I judge other movies; it simply can't be put under the same standards. Most movies are about entertainment and telling a story; this movie (like Blue Velvet before it) is about intense emotions, the darker side of the soul, and the warped mind of director David Lynch. David Lynch is one of the few directors left who still expresses himself through his work; he is one of the last true film artists. He indulges himself here, perhaps to an extreme. I'm not even sure I can say that this movie "entertained" me in the usual sense; but I relished the experience. His obsessions with Elvis, (impersonated or channeled by Nicholas Cage in an inspired performance) The Wizard of Oz, (the movie repeatedly references the classic both concretely and in symbolism) his desire to opress/victimize women, and the evil inside us all take center stage here; the story becomes secondary. The story itself is about a couple whose love borders on an unhealthy obsession, and seems to be founded in pleasure more than spirit. It is a "road picture" if you boil it down superficially. But this movie is about Lynch's twisted desires and his desire to twist us as well. The scene where Willem Dafoe's evil, animalistic character seduces Laura Dern verbally is one of the most powerful scenes in film. In my mind the release of this movie and the premiere of "Twin Peaks" on television were the events that started the 90's, at least in an artistic sense. Watch this movie; it is an intense roller coaster, a visual dream, and an unfiltered look into Lynch's mind and the American psyche."
One of the Best!!
G. Preston | Baltimore, MD United States | 11/22/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Maybe there's something to the theory that Europeans "get" Lynch more than the average American does. Not sure about that, but I love this film just as much as Blue Velvet, Fire Walk With Me, Mulholland Drive etc, and it surprises me that many have such a low opinion of it. Most Lynch films seem to explore the connection between romance (or at least lust) and darker impulses such as obsession, murder and dementia. Here the division is very clear; it's a full blown Romantic Epic, with Cage and Dern as the hopelessly-in-love couple on the run. The classic romance paradigm is done in a very tongue-in-cheek manner here, and Lynch and the actors have a great deal of fun portraying the characters in a cheesy, over-the-top manner. This is where some people seem to have a problem with the movie: the exaggerated acting of Cage & Dern. Personally, I think they do a great job-it is meant to be humorous, and it works as a perfectly good counterpoint to the increasingly sinister obstacles they must overcome. Here is where the movie really shines: Lynch lets his imagination run wild in his depiction of a bizarre and dangerous underworld of criminal activity. Willem Dafoe is pitch-perfect as the sleazy hitman, and the scene where he tries to seduce Laura Dern in the hotel room is one of the most disturbing moments of sexual tension ever caught on film. As with most David Lynch films, there are so many small details, so much humor and intelligence (as opposed to your average Hollywood hit) that it can be enjoyed over and over again. All in all, this is an extremely imaginative and fun movie, and not to be missed!"
The best role of Nicolas Cage
William A. Otis | 06/18/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It seems to me that this is the best role Nicolas Cage ever played. His character is funny, over the top. It would be a shame if MGM would not release this movie on DVD. The whole movie it`s a comedy, even in its violent parts. Without a doubt the best film Lynch ever directed, after "Blue Velvet"."
Wild At Heart On DVD will be great
G. Preston | 06/07/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Yes, the other guy was right. This movie should be released on DVD. But my question is how? How everybody who loves the movie can express themselves clearly on this point? I don`t know but I do love this movie, the acting is great. It won "Golden Palm" at Cannes Film Festival ten years ago."
This movie affected me forever. Thrilling, soulful, cute.
Jeffrey M. Papineau | San Jose, CA USA | 12/03/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I only saw it once, in the theater and was a liberating, thrilling experience because of the emotion and depth of it's creator's mind came through so completely. This is art. If you are offended by it's treatment of women or racial distortions, you miss it's point entirely. Life is not fair. It's both sweet and primal, brutal and dazzaling, crude and enlightening, depending on the road you take, in various mixtures of each. Much like this film. I forever looked at the world differently; thru Lynch's eyes, a brief glimps of his soul and the metaphores his charactors represent. I could identify with each, and in some ways see myself in all of them... but if anything, I think it encouraged me to hang a little bit looser and attempt to enjoy more thouroghly because that's what life should be. If you haven't loved someone obsessively, you haven't really lived. If you haven't let loose and really partied, you missed something. If you've denied your dark shadow self your entire life, you don't really know who you are. I've been waiting years for this to come out on DVD and it looks like the wait will be over soon."