Basic Instinct (1992)
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A homicide detective becomes entangled in a dangerous relationship with a wealthy crime novelist who is the prime suspect in a murder case.
The story
In San Francisco, homicide detective Nick Curran and his partner, Gus Moran, investigate the murder of rock star Johnny Boz. The primary suspect is Boz's girlfriend, Catherine Tramell, a wealthy heiress and crime novelist whose latest book mirrors the details of the killing. While Catherine is initially released for lack of evidence, she remains a person of interest. As Nick investigates her history of relationships with violent individuals, he finds himself drawn into an intense and complicated relationship with the woman who is the center of his investigation.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After the murder of rock star Johnny Boz, Detective Nick Curran investigates the case and identifies Catherine Tramell as the prime suspect. Catherine is a crime novelist who remains uncooperative and taunts the police. Nick, a recovering alcoholic, discovers that Catherine is using him as inspiration for a new novel. During the investigation, Nick learns of Catherine's past with violent individuals, including her girlfriend Roxy Hardy and a woman named Hazel Dobkins. After a series of events, including a car crash where Roxy dies and the murder of an internal affairs lieutenant, Nick's investigation leads him to believe his psychologist, Dr. Elizabeth Garner, is involved in a conspiracy. He eventually discovers that Garner was involved in multiple murders and was the one who had a relationship with Catherine. In a final confrontation, Nick kills Garner, believing she is reaching for a weapon. The film ends with Nick and Catherine together in a room where an ice pick lies hidden beneath the bed.
- First release year
- 1992
- Runtime (minutes)
- 128
- Production countries
- United States; United Kingdom
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Paul Verhoeven
- Writers
- Joe Eszterhas · writer
- Cast and characters
- Michael Douglas · Nick Curran; Sharon Stone · Catherine Tramell; George Dzundza · Gus Moran; Jeanne Tripplehorn · Beth Garner; Wayne Knight
- Genres
- neo-noir; erotic thriller; mystery
- Themes
- identity; obsession; danger
- Tone and mood
- tense; mysterious
- Premise and plot tags
- murder mystery; police procedural; psychological thriller
- Content notes
- violence; sexual content
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for performances and score, but criticism of the script and character development. It was a commercial success and became a cultural touchstone for the erotic thriller genre.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 43 · scale: 100 · review count: 28; CinemaScore · score: B+ · scale: A+ to F
- Production trivia
- The script was developed in the 1980s and was the subject of a bidding war.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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