Basic Instinct Collection

Thriller

Mystery

Basic Instinct

Carolco Pictures

Le Studio Canal+

United States of America

France

English

Michael Douglas

Sharon Stone

George Dzundza

Jeanne Tripplehorn

Denis Arndt

Leilani Sarelle

Bruce A. Young

Chelcie Ross

Dorothy Malone

Wayne Knight

Daniel von Bargen

Stephen Tobolowsky

Benjamin Mouton

Jack McGee

Bill Cable

Stephen Rowe

Mitch Pileggi

Mary Pat Gleason

Freda Foh Shen

William Duff-Griffin

James Rebhorn

David Wells

Bradford English

Mary Ann Rodgers

Adilah Barnes

Irene Olga López

Juanita Jennings

Craig C. Lewis

Michael David Lally

Peter Appel

Michael Halton

Keith McDaniel

Eric Poppick

Ron Cacas

Kayla Blake

Ken Liebenson

Lindy Rasmusson

Byron Berline

Eddie Dunbar

Tom McKibbin

Julie Bond

Anne Lockhart

Patricia Anne Isgate-Hayward

Pui Fan Lee

Andy Rolfes

Bob Sallese

Theodore Carl Soderberg

Damon Stout

Mark Billerman

William Cruse

Terence Marsh

Anne Kuljian

M. James Arnett

Mario Kassar

Dean Beville

Frank J. Urioste

Paul Verhoeven

Joe Eszterhas

Ellen Mirojnick

Alan Marshall

Jerry Goldsmith

Jan de Bont

Seth Arnett

John Frazier

Howard Feuer

Rob Bottin

David Lowery

Janet Brady

Michael Runyard

Marian Green

Trudy Ramirez

Tommy J. Huff

Donna Evans

Charlie Picerni

Gary Epper

Manny Perry

William S. Beasley

Louis D'Esposito

Richard W. Clot

Gregory Lynch Jr.

Audrey L. Anzures

Roy Barnes

Michael R. Sloan

David Forrest

B.J. Fredrickson

Randy L. Childs

Steve Adcock

Chris Chichotka

Dennis J. Parrish

Ron Bartlett

David A. Arnold

Carlos Delarios

Fred Runner

Craig T. Shordon

Stephen Myles Berger

Norman B. Schwartz

Gary E. Roloff

Jennifer Clinard

Douglas Greenfield

Kim Marks

Stephen Hunter Flick

Dave Childers

E. Christopher Reed

Al Magliochetti

Benny McNulty

Leslie J. Kovacs

Don Estes

J. Michael Davis

Miles Anderson

Ralph Nelson Jr.

Bob Putynkowski

Douglas Kunin

Ellen Lent

Harry Shannon

Larry McConkey

Homer Albin

Kenneth Hall

Paul Threlkeld

Jim Baldwin

Perry Montague Mason

Alexander Courage

Michael Dennison

Candace Wells

Aslihan Coker

Derek Brechin

Daniel B. Briggs

Lauren Beth Strogoff

Randy Burke

Jim Davidson

John Pospisil

Ron Roggé

Robin Allen

Mike Kaufman

Mauriece Jacks Jr.

Frank Cunha

Christopher Desmond

Allen Burry

Christine A. Johnston

James Marett

Gary F. Kieldrup

Harold Selig

Wayne Fitzgerald

Thomas J. O'Connell

Jeffrey Greeley

Controversy aside, in regards both to Sharon Stone's quintessentially-provocative noirish femme fatale (talk about a queen bee or alpha female!) and the backlash that the film portrayed lesbians as crazed psychos, Verhoeven both played a striking tribute to Sir Alfred Hitchcock, particularly San Francisco's based Vertigo and in use of the blonde bombshell, and simply continued his style of storytelling that had become his trademark in his pre-Hollywood, formative days in the Netherlands. Though it's not mentioned in the interviews of either star or director, the wonderful car chase brought to mind that 'other' car chase Frisco Bay movie, 'Bullitt'. But given the remarkable landscape of the area, why not? One would be a fool not to push the stylistic envelope as far as the censors will allow. A film that would have made The Master of Suspense proud, methinks, and one that he himself perhaps would have done, had Joe Eszterhas' very fun script been around, during, say, the time of 'Frenzy', when Hitchcock was at his cheekiest. A fantastic date movie too, by the way...

I'd have to be pretty stupid to write a book about killing and then kill him the way I described in my book. I'd be announcing myself as the killer. I'm not stupid. 

Basic Instinct is directed by Paul Verhoeven and written by Joe Eszterhaz. It stars Michael Douglas, Sharon Stone, George Dzundza, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Denis Arndt and Leilani Sarelle. Music is scored by Jerry Goldsmith and cinematography by Jan de Bont. 

Nick Curran (Douglas) of the SFPD is strung out and under investigation by Internal Affairs, last thing he needs is to be drawn into a dangerous relationship with a sex crazed blonde who may be a murderess...

Time hasn't been kind to Verhoeven's soft-core porn thriller, where once was shock and awe killings (the film opening with a brutal mini ice-pick murder), steamy love scenes and a famed and controversial crotch shot, now is ludicrous orgasms, iffy effects and Michael Douglas' unappetising ass! Hell there was even protests during the film's initial theatre run as the gay community went up in arms about the portrayal of bisexuals possibly being mad murderers?

Yet for all of its taming over the years, Basic Instinct can at least now been seen as the hugely efficient mystery thriller that it is, one that is propelled by some very good performances by the principal actors. The strength in the story is not in the sex or blood, but in the character arcs of Nick Curran and Catherine Tramell (Stone). Curran is a man perched on the edge of doom who is controlled totally by the women around him. He is by definition a quintessential film noir protagonist, in so deep he ultimately will be resigned to his fate. Catharine Tramell is a ultimate femme fatale, beautiful and seductive, she's always in control, leading all male characters where she wants them to go. There's a delicious kink to the narrative, with Verhoeven gleefully pulling the strings, a smirk no doubt etched onto his face. 

This is very good story telling, with a plot of substantial twists and turns. True, it does carry some soft-core baggage that can steer the restless away from the character strengths within, but for the neo-noir crowd there is much to enjoy here. 7.5/10

Basic Instinct Theatrical Trailer (1992) [4K] [FTD-1070]

Sharon Stone and Michael Douglas in BASIC INSTINCT - Car Scene Clip

Sharon Stone in BASIC INSTINCT - Interrogation Clip

Club Scene from BASIC INSTINCT - Starring Sharon Stone and Michael Douglas

BASIC INSTINCT - Nick visits Catherine - Starring Sharon Stone and Michael Douglas

You Like Playing Games Don't You? - Clip from BASIC INSTINCT starring Michael Douglas & Sharon Stone

BASIC INSTINCT - Car Chase Clip - Starring Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone

BASIC INSTINCT | Best Scenes | STUDIOCANAL International

BASIC INSTINCT Rerelease Trailer [1992]

BASIC INSTINCT | Official Trailer - Starring Sharon Stone | STUDIOCANAL International

Examining Basic Instinct - A Video Essay | Starring Sharon Stone & Michael Douglas

Official 4K Restoration Trailer

Official Trailer

Best Movies

Basic Instinct

Cast & Crew

Videos

Cast

Michael Douglas

Sharon Stone

George Dzundza

Jeanne Tripplehorn

Denis Arndt

Leilani Sarelle

Bruce A. Young

Chelcie Ross

Dorothy Malone

Wayne Knight

Box office

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