Basic Instinct (1992)

A violent police detective investigates a brutal murder that might involve a manipulative and seductive novelist.

Director:

Paul Verhoeven

Writer:

Joe Eszterhas

Stars:

Michael Douglas, Sharon Stone, George Dzundza

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 21 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Douglas	...	Detective Nick Curran
Sharon Stone	...	Catherine Tramell
George Dzundza	...	Gus Moran
Jeanne Tripplehorn	...	Dr. Beth Garner
Denis Arndt	...	Lieutenant Walker
Leilani Sarelle	...	Roxy Hardy
Bruce A. Young	...	Andrews
Chelcie Ross	...	Captain Talcott
Dorothy Malone	...	Hazel Dobkins
Wayne Knight	...	John Correli
Daniel von Bargen	...	Lieutenant Nilsen (as Daniel Von Bargen)
Stephen Tobolowsky	...	Dr. Lamott
Benjamin Mouton	...	Harrigan
Jack McGee	...	Sheriff
Bill Cable	...	Johnny Boz

Storyline

A former rock star, Johnny Boz, is brutally killed during sex, and the case is assigned to detective Nick Curran of the SFPD. During the investigation, Nick meets Catherine Tramell, a crime novelist who was Boz's girlfriend when he died. Catherine proves to be a very clever and manipulative woman, and though Nick is more or less convinced that she murdered Boz, he is unable to find any evidence. Later, when Nilsen, Nick's rival in the police, is killed, Nick suspects of Catherine's involvement in it. He then starts to play a dangerous lust-filled mind game with Catherine to nail her, but as their relationship progresses, the body count rises and contradicting evidences force Nick to start questioning his own suspicions about Catherine's guilt.

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Plot Keywords:

erotic thriller | manipulation | female nudity | ice pick | mind game | 

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Taglines:

Flesh seduces. Passion kills.

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence and sensuality, and for drug use and language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Joe Eszterhas was paid a then-unheard-of sum of $3 million for his script.

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Goofs

When Nick Curran is hit by the Lotus, the left pop-up headlight is damaged. It's OK for the next shots of the car chase.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Gus: Who was this fuckin' guy?
Nick: Rock and roll, Gus. Johnny Boz.
Gus: Never heard of him.
Nick: Before your time, cowboy.

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Alternate Versions

The European release is much more explicit than the American release (which had to be submitted seven times to the MPAA in order to avoid an NC-17 rating). The European version is available unrated on video in the US. The US version uses alternate, less explicit takes of several scenes to tone down the sex content.

• The murder of Johnny Boz in the opening scene is more graphic; we see the killer stabbing him in his neck, stabbing him repeatedly in the chest, in the face and we see the ice-pick passing through his nose.
• The scene where Nick rapes Beth is severely cut in the US version (we see ripping off her underwear and forcing her over the couch, then there's a cut to the two of them lying in bed). In the uncut version Nick pulls down his pants, penetrates Beth from behind and he apparently has an orgasm.
• The scene where Nick and Catherine make love after going to the disco is longer much more explicit in the uncut version (Nick is seen burying his face between her legs).

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Connections

Featured in This Film Is Not Yet Rated (2006)

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Soundtracks

Blue
Written and Performed by LaTour
Courtesy of Smash Records

User Reviews

It'll Wear Ya Out

It'll wear ya out. Those were the words uttered by an old guy who was walking out of Basic Instinct that I overheard. A woman asked if the film we just saw was any good and that's what he answered. I did feel worn out by the experience of seeing this film. It was a first rate crackerjack erotic thriller. A triple degree black belt in modern movie thriller cinema. Dutch director Paul Verhoeven proves himself to be a first rate filmmaking madman with this monster work.

Sharon Stone became one of my fave rave movie stars after the release of this flick. All her other work has pretty much been second rate. And Mikey Douglas once again pushes the envelope in Hollywood where everything these days must be safe and non-offensive. This is badass dangerous filmmaking, daddy-o, and it's apart of what I call The Evil Three. The Evil Three Of Filmmaking. Or the the three sexual films that really p***ed a lot of people off. The Evil Three consists of: Basic Instinct, Fatal Attraction, Indecent Proposal. Too bad Mike didn't play Redford's part in Proposal. That woulda REALLY honked those uptight squares off.

And don't listen to the stiffs who hated this film because of its so called negative portrayals of lesbians. I think most intelligent folk knew before going to see this movie that most lesbians don't have a thing for ice picks and crotchless underwear. A word to the wiseguy...

Details

Country:

USA France

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 March 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

Love Hurts

Filming Locations:

Carmel, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$49,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$15,129,385, 22 March 1992

Gross USA:

$117,727,224

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$352,927,224

Company Credits

Production Co:

Carolco Pictures, Canal+

Technical Specs

Runtime:

127 min 128 min (unrated)

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR LC-Concept Digital Sound (France)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1