Basic Instinct was a very controversial movie when released back in 1992 for its explicit sex scenes and graphic violence. Named as one of the finest erotic thrillers, Basic Instinct was a movie that kept you going from start to finish. While you might be trying to guess who the real killer is (everyone knows who the real killer by now), it's hard charging sexuality and great performances keeps audiences addicted. Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone were excellent and Paul Verhoeven had another winner on his hands before his career was derailed by Showgirls (1995).
San Francisco Police Homicide Detectives Nick Curran (Michael Douglas) and Gus Moran (George Dzundza) are assigned to investigate the murder of former rock star Johnny Boz who is brutally stabbed to death with an ice pick while having sex with a mysterious blonde woman. The only suspect in the murder is crime novelist Catherine Tramell (Sharon Stone in her best role) who is initially uncooperative at the start but later willingly agrees to accompany Nick and Gus to the police station for questioning. During the interrogation, Catherine seductively toys with the police detectives and blatantly starts smoking even when told not to. While she crosses her legs, she purposefully exposes her vulva showing she wasn't wearing any underwear underneath her dress. Though Catherine is cleared following a lie detector test, she left all the police detectives very embarrassed that she had strung them all along. Catherine later reveals that for her next novel one of her main characters is based on Nick, a troubled cop who falls for the wrong woman and is later killed by her in the end. Nick also has a reckless reputation within the department having recently been investigated for an accidental shooting during an undercover operation while high on cocaine. He is also having an affair with police psychologist Dr Beth Garner (Jeanne Tripplehorn) who is also his counsellor following the shooting. Internal Affairs Lieutenant Marty Nielsen (Daniel von Bargen) who investigated Nick continues to bait him and Nick accuses of Lieutenant Nielsen of giving Catherine information about him following a bribe. Nick and Catherine start to have a torrid affair as Nick plays a dangerous cat and mouse game with Catherine to nail her as does Catherine who plays her own games with Nick. As their relationship progresses, there are more murders that are occurring and contradicting evidence force Nick to start questioning his own suspicions about Catherine's guilt and that Nick could potentially be the killer's next target as well as those close to him.
Basic Instinct also stars Dennis Arndt, Wayne Knight, Leilani Sarelle, Chelsie Ross, Jack McGee, James Rebhorn, Stephen Tobolowsky, Mitch Pileggi, Bruce A. Young, Dorothy Malone and Bill Cable.
Directed by Paul Verhoeven (Robocop, Total Recall) and written by Joe Eszterhas (Flashdance, Jagged Edge), Basic Instinct also faced a number of protests and accusations. There were protests from gay rights activists complaining about the negative portrayal of lesbianism and bisexuality in the film. Some even decided to picket outside cinemas revealing the ending. Other critics viewed the film as mysogynistic. Paul Verhoeven pushed the envelope when it came to sex and violence and Basic Instinct was no exception.
Basic Instinct was a box office hit in 1992 and would be one of the top ten highest grossing movies of the year despite its controversy. Basic Instinct is still an interesting and intriguing movie, and is one that you just can't look away from and you can't avoid it.
Don't even bother with the sequel Basic Instinct 2: Risk Addiction (2006) in which Sharon Stone reprised her role as Catherine Tramell. It was a mega flop that was set up to fail.
7/10.
San Francisco Police Homicide Detectives Nick Curran (Michael Douglas) and Gus Moran (George Dzundza) are assigned to investigate the murder of former rock star Johnny Boz who is brutally stabbed to death with an ice pick while having sex with a mysterious blonde woman. The only suspect in the murder is crime novelist Catherine Tramell (Sharon Stone in her best role) who is initially uncooperative at the start but later willingly agrees to accompany Nick and Gus to the police station for questioning. During the interrogation, Catherine seductively toys with the police detectives and blatantly starts smoking even when told not to. While she crosses her legs, she purposefully exposes her vulva showing she wasn't wearing any underwear underneath her dress. Though Catherine is cleared following a lie detector test, she left all the police detectives very embarrassed that she had strung them all along. Catherine later reveals that for her next novel one of her main characters is based on Nick, a troubled cop who falls for the wrong woman and is later killed by her in the end. Nick also has a reckless reputation within the department having recently been investigated for an accidental shooting during an undercover operation while high on cocaine. He is also having an affair with police psychologist Dr Beth Garner (Jeanne Tripplehorn) who is also his counsellor following the shooting. Internal Affairs Lieutenant Marty Nielsen (Daniel von Bargen) who investigated Nick continues to bait him and Nick accuses of Lieutenant Nielsen of giving Catherine information about him following a bribe. Nick and Catherine start to have a torrid affair as Nick plays a dangerous cat and mouse game with Catherine to nail her as does Catherine who plays her own games with Nick. As their relationship progresses, there are more murders that are occurring and contradicting evidence force Nick to start questioning his own suspicions about Catherine's guilt and that Nick could potentially be the killer's next target as well as those close to him.
Basic Instinct also stars Dennis Arndt, Wayne Knight, Leilani Sarelle, Chelsie Ross, Jack McGee, James Rebhorn, Stephen Tobolowsky, Mitch Pileggi, Bruce A. Young, Dorothy Malone and Bill Cable.
Directed by Paul Verhoeven (Robocop, Total Recall) and written by Joe Eszterhas (Flashdance, Jagged Edge), Basic Instinct also faced a number of protests and accusations. There were protests from gay rights activists complaining about the negative portrayal of lesbianism and bisexuality in the film. Some even decided to picket outside cinemas revealing the ending. Other critics viewed the film as mysogynistic. Paul Verhoeven pushed the envelope when it came to sex and violence and Basic Instinct was no exception.
Basic Instinct was a box office hit in 1992 and would be one of the top ten highest grossing movies of the year despite its controversy. Basic Instinct is still an interesting and intriguing movie, and is one that you just can't look away from and you can't avoid it.
Don't even bother with the sequel Basic Instinct 2: Risk Addiction (2006) in which Sharon Stone reprised her role as Catherine Tramell. It was a mega flop that was set up to fail.
7/10.