Basic Instinct

''Basic Instinct'' is a 1992 erotic thriller film directed by Paul Verhoeven and written by Joe Eszterhas. Starring Michael Douglas, Sharon Stone, George Dzundza, Jeanne Tripplehorn, and Wayne Knight, the film follows the detective Nick Curran (Douglas) as he investigates the murder of a wealthy rock star in San Francisco. He begins an intense relationship with Catherine Tramell (Stone), an enigmatic writer and the prime suspect.

The script was developed by Eszterhas in the 1980s, and it became the subject of a bidding war. Carolco Pictures secured the rights to the film and brought Verhoeven on board to direct. Stone was cast as Tramell after the role was rejected by several actresses. Production was plagued by protests and intense conflict between Eszterhas and Verhoeven.

''Basic Instinct'' premiered in Los Angeles on March 18, 1992, and was theatrically released in the United States by TriStar Pictures on March 20, 1992. The film received mixed reviews upon its release, with praise for the performances of the cast, score, and editing, while its writing and character development were criticized. It also generated controversy due to its sexually explicit content, violence, and depiction of homosexual relationships. Despite the public protest, ''Basic Instinct'' was a commercial success, grossing $352.9 million worldwide and becoming the fourth-highest-grossing film of 1992. Due to its success and controversy, it inspired many imitators, and has been labelled as "perhaps the quintessential erotic thriller of the 1990s."

Since its release, ''Basic Instinct'' has undergone a critical reevaluation. The film has been recognized for its groundbreaking depictions of sexuality in mainstream Hollywood cinema, and was described by one scholar as "a neo-film noir masterpiece that plays with, and transgresses, the narrative rules of film noir." Numerous versions have been released on home video, including a director's cut with extended footage previously unseen in North American cinemas.

A sequel, '' Basic Instinct 2'', was released 14 years later in 2006. The film stars Stone, but was made without the involvement of Verhoeven or Douglas. It received negative reviews and was relatively unsuccessful.

Plot

In San Francisco, a blonde woman ties a retired rock star, Johnny Boz to a bed with a silk scarf during sex, then stabs him to death with an ice pick. SFPD Police Detective Nick Curran and his partner, Gus Moran, investigate the murder. The prime suspect is Boz's girlfriend, the crime novelist Catherine Tramell, whose novel mirrors the crime.

Catherine is uncooperative and taunts the investigators by smoking and exposing herself. Although she is released, Nick discovers that she has a history of befriending murderers. This includes Roxy Hardy, Catherine's girlfriend, who killed her two younger brothers at the age of 16 and Hazel Dobkins, who killed her husband and children.

Nick, who accidentally shot two tourists while high on cocaine during an undercover assignment, attends counseling sessions with the police psychologist Dr. Beth Garner. The two have an on-and-off affair. Nick discovers that Catherine is using him as the basis for the protagonist of her latest book, in which his character is murdered after falling for the wrong woman. Suspicious that she has bribed lieutenant Marty Nilsen for his psychiatric file, Nick assaults Nilsen in his office. Nilsen is found murdered, and Nick is suspected and placed on leave.

Nick sees Catherine snorting cocaine with Roxy at Boz's club. At Catherine's home, she ties him to her bed with a silk scarf during sex while Roxy watches. Moran is angry that Nick has begun a relationship with Catherine and uncovers evidence that Nilsen was paid fifty thousand dollars three months earlier, before Nick and Catherine met.

Jealous of Nick, Roxy tries to run him over with Catherine's car but crashes and dies. Upset, Catherine confesses to Nick about a college encounter with a girl that ended badly when the girl became obsessed with her. Nick identifies that girl as Beth, who claims that it was Catherine who was obsessed. When Nick visits Berkeley, he discovers that Catherine's report against Beth was withdrawn by Nilsen a year earlier; that a college professor of Catherine and Beth's was killed with an ice pick in an unsolved homicide that inspired one of Catherine's early novels; and that Nilsen had investigated the unsolved murder of Beth's former husband and that Beth's lesbian lover may have been involved.

Nick discovers the final pages of Catherine's book in which the detective finds his partner's body in an elevator. Catherine ends their relationship, leaving Nick both upset and suspicious. He meets Moran, who has arranged to meet Catherine's college roommate in Oakland to learn about Catherine and Beth. Nick discovers Moran stabbed to death with an ice pick in the elevator, as in the novel. Beth arrives and claims that she received a message to meet Moran. Nick suspects Beth of killing Moran and shoots her when he believes she is reaching for a gun, but finds she is unarmed.

Evidence implicates Beth in the murders of Boz, Nilsen, Moran and her husband. The investigators find extensive photos and newspaper clippings of Catherine. Nick is both confused and dejected. Catherine meets him at his apartment and explains her reluctance to commit to him due to her loved ones dying. They have sex and discuss their future. Unseen by Nick, an ice pick lies underneath the bed.

Cast

Production

The screenplay, which was written in the 1980s, sparked a bidding war until it was finally purchased by Carolco Pictures for US$3 million. Joe Eszterhas, who had previously been the creative force behind several blockbuster films such as '' Flashdance'' (1983) and '' Jagged Edge'' (1985), managed to complete the script in just 13 days. However, Paul Verhoeven had suggested changes to the script that Eszterhas strongly disagreed with, including a lesbian sex scene that Eszterhas deemed "exploitative". With Verhoeven unwilling to budge, Eszterhas and producer Irwin Winkler left the production.

Gary Goldman was subsequently brought on board to rewrite the script four times at Verhoeven's suggestion. However, by the fourth draft, Verhoeven himself acknowledged that his proposals were "undramatic" and "really stupid". By the fifth and final draft, the script had returned to Eszterhas' original vision, with only minor tweaks to visuals and dialogue. As a result, Joe Eszterhas received sole writing credit for the film. In preparation for the car chase scene, Douglas drove up the steps on Kearny Street in San Francisco for four nights by himself.

The home of Sharon Stone's character, prominently featured in the film, is said to be in Stinson Beach, California, just north of San Francisco. In reality, the scenes were shot at a mansion near Carmel-by-the-Sea, about south of San Francisco. The property had been previously owned by the late adventurer Steve Fossett and his wife until her death in 2017. In 2018, the residence was purchased by software engineer Gary Vickers, who combined it into an estate with four adjoining cottages he also owned; he put the entire property on sale the following year for $52.4 million. By 2022, the asking price had been lowered to $29.6 million.

Casting

After numerous actors turned down the lead role, Carolco worried they would not be able to cast a suitable male lead. CAA's agent Ronald Meyer called Carolco and said that he knew the script had been turned down by actors; Meyer said Michael Douglas would agree to star in the film if Carolco could meet his salary requirement, and Carolco quickly agreed. Douglas was cast in the project early on. He recommended Kim Basinger for the role of Catherine Tramell, but she declined. He also suggested Julia Roberts, Greta Scacchi, and Meg Ryan, but they all turned down the role. Debra Winger, Michelle Pfeiffer, Geena Davis, Kathleen Turner, Kelly Lynch, Ellen Barkin, and Mariel Hemingway all turned down the role as well when offered by Verhoeven and producers.

Verhoeven considered Demi Moore, but ultimately chose Sharon Stone, with whom he had previously worked on ''Total Recall''. Verhoeven had been particularly struck by the way she quickly transitioned from evil to love in a couple of seconds before her character's death in that film. Verhoeven tested with Stone as Douglas first refused to test with her. Verhoeven kept playing her test after testing everyone else, and Douglas later agreed to test with Stone after 12 other actresses turned down the role. Michael Douglas was initially upset that the relatively unknown Stone was cast in the role, determined to have another A-list actress star in the movie with him. Worried about taking the risk on his own, he said, "I need someone to share the risks of this movie. ..I don't want to be up there all by myself. There's going to be a lot of shit flying around." He later remarked that "we had a fabulous actress in Sharon. She was just perfect for the role".
Stone was paid $500,000 for her role, while Douglas received $14 million.

Music

Soundtrack

The musical score for ''Basic Instinct'' was composed by Jerry Goldsmith and earned him nominations for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award. Goldsmith described the process as challenging, stating, "''Basic Instinct'' was probably the most difficult coreI've ever done. It's a very convoluted story with very unorthodox characters. It's a murder mystery, but it isn't really a murder mystery. The director, Paul Verhoeven, had a very clear idea of how the woman should be, and I had a hard time getting it. Because of Paul pushing me, I think it's one of the best scores I've ever written. It was a true collaboration."

In terms of featured music, commercially released tracks played a minor role in the film. The club scene prominently features "Blue" by Chicago house music performer LaTour and "Rave the Rhythm" by the group Channel X, as well as "Movin' on Up" by Jeff Barry and Ja'Net DuBois. Chris Rea's " Looking for the Summer" is heard during a scene between Douglas and his partner at Mac's Diner.

The film's official soundtrack was released on March 17, 1992. In 2004, Prometheus Records issued an expanded version of Goldsmith's score, which included previously omitted sections and alternative compositions for certain elements.

Release

Theatrical

The film opened in North American theatres in March 1992, and after being entered into the 1992 Cannes Film Festival continued on to a worldwide release.

MPAA rating

''Basic Instinct'' is rated R for "strong violence and sensuality, and for drug use and language". Initially, the film was given an NC-17 rating by the MPAA for "graphic depictions of extremely explicit violence, sexual content and strong language". However, under pressure from TriStar and Carolco, Verhoeven cut 35 to 40 seconds from the film to achieve an R rating. Verhoeven described the changes in a March 1992 article in ''The New York Times'':

Home media

The theatrical release of the film was cut by 35 to 40 seconds to avoid an NC-17 rating, with some violence and sexually explicit content removed. The missing or censored material, later released on video and DVD as the director's cut, included:
*The murder of Johnny Boz in the opening scene. In the director's cut, the killer is seen stabbing him in his neck, in the chest and through his nose. In addition, the killer is still having violent sex with him while stabbing him at the same time.
*The scene where Nick rapes Beth is cut in the US theatrical version. He is seen ripping off her clothes and forcing her over the couch, before a cut to the two of them lying on the floor. In the uncut version, she verbally tells him to stop and says 'no' multiple times.
*The scene where Nick and Catherine have sex after going to the club is longer and much more explicit in the uncut version.

In 2021, StudioCanal released a restored 4K Ultra HD 'collector's edition' of the film on Blu-ray, DVD, and digital download in the UK (June 14), Australia (July 7), and New Zealand (July 14). The restoration was supervised by the director and completed in 2019–2020, using the original 35MM negative. Additionally, a new documentary titled "Basic Instinct, Sex, Death & Stone" was added as a special feature.

Reception

Box office

''Basic Instinct'' opened in theaters in the United States and Canada on March 20, 1992, and became one of the highest-grossing films of that year. It debuted at number one at the US box office, grossing $15 million in its opening weekend. After briefly dropping down the charts, it returned to number one in its fifth week, where it remained for four weeks. In total, the film grossed $117.7 million in the United States and Canada. Internationally, it grossed $352,927,224, making it the fourth-highest-grossing film released in 1992 worldwide. In Italy, it had a record opening of $5.44 million and remained number one for four weeks, ultimately grossing $20 million and becoming the highest-grossing film for the year. It was the highest-grossing film in Spain of all time, with a gross of $21.6 million, and in the United Kingdom, it was number one for three weeks and the highest-grossing film for the year with a gross of £15.5 million. It was also number one for the year in France ($27 million), Germany (4.5 million admissions), South Africa ($3 million), Iceland, and Ireland. In Australia, it was number one for three weeks and the second-highest-grossing film for the year, grossing A$13.1 million.

Critical response

''Basic Instinct''s critical reaction was mixed. On Metacritic the film holds a score of 43 based on 28 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews. Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale.

Janet Maslin of ''The New York Times'' praised the film, saying "''Basic Instinct'' transfers Mr. Verhoeven's flair for action-oriented material to the realm of Hitchcockian intrigue, and the results are viscerally effective even when they don't make sense." Peter Travers of ''Rolling Stone'' also praised the film, saying it was a guilty pleasure film; he also expressed admiration for Verhoeven's direction, saying his "cinematic wet dream delivers the goods, especially when Sharon Stone struts on with enough come-on carnality to singe the screen," and praised Stone's performance: "Stone, a former model, is a knockout; she even got a rise out of Arnold Schwarzenegger in Verhoeven's '' Total Recall''. But being the bright spot in too many dull movies ('' He Said, She Said''; '' Irreconcilable Differences'') stalled her career. Though ''Basic Instinct'' establishes Stone as a bombshell for the Nineties, it also shows she can nail a laugh or shade an emotion with equal aplomb."

Australian critic Shannon J. Harvey of the '' Sunday Times'' called it one of the "1990s finest productions, doing more for female empowerment than any feminist rally. Stone—in her star-making performance—is as hot and sexy as she is ice-pick cold."

The film had many detractors. Roger Ebert of the ''Chicago Sun-Times'' awarded it two out of four stars, saying the film was well crafted but died down in the last half-hour: "The film is like a crossword puzzle. It keeps your interest until you solve it. Then it's just a worthless scrap with the spaces filled in." Dave Kehr of the ''Chicago Tribune'' also gave a negative review, calling it psychologically empty: "Verhoeven does not explore the dark side, but merely exploits it, and that makes all the difference in the world."

Controversy

Initial

After the script was made available to gay rights activist groups in early 1991, concerns arose as to the film's depiction of homosexual relationships, and the portrayal of a bisexual woman as a murderous psychopath. Activists claimed that the film followed a pattern of negative depictions and stereotypes of homosexuals in film. While Eszterhas was open to addressing these concerns, Verhoeven, Douglas, and producer Alan Marshall rejected the changes, claiming that they "undermined" Eszterhas' script and "lessen the integrity of the picture." Upon resuming filming in San Francisco in late April 1991, gay and lesbian rights activists and demonstrators attended, and the San Francisco Police Department's riot police were present at every location to manage the crowds. Protesters outside the filming locations held signs that said "Honk if you love the 49ers" and "Honk if you love men." On April 29, Marshall ordered a citizen's arrest and personally identified each protester he wanted arrested. However, this did not result in any action by the local police department.

Members of the lesbian and bisexual activist group LABIA protested against the film on its opening night. Others also picketed theatres to dissuade people from attending screenings, carrying signs saying "Kiss My Ice Pick", "Hollywood Promotes Anti-Gay Violence" and "Catherine Did It!"/"Save Your Money—The Bisexual Did It". Verhoeven himself defended the groups' right to protest, but criticized the disruptions they caused, saying "Fascism is not in raising your voice; the fascism is in not accepting the no."

Six protestors disrupted the filming of ''Saturday Night Live'' on April 11, 1992, while Stone was hosting. The protestors attempted to rush the stage, but they were apprehended by security; two women and four men were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and harassment. The live version of Stone's interrupted monologue was replaced in repeat broadcasts with footage from the dress rehearsal.

Film critic Roger Ebert mentioned the controversy in his review, saying "As for the allegedly offensive homosexual characters: The movie's protesters might take note of the fact that this film's heterosexuals, starting with Douglas, are equally offensive. Still, there is a point to be made about Hollywood's unremitting insistence on typecasting homosexuals—particularly lesbians—as twisted and evil." Camille Paglia denounced the gay activist and feminist protests against ''Basic Instinct'', and called Sharon Stone's performance "one of the great performances by a woman in screen history", praising her character as "a great vamp figure, like Mona Lisa herself, like a pagan goddess."

Women's rights groups also protested the film over its negative depiction of women and a brutal rape scene, with a branch of The National Organization for Women calling the film "the most blatantly misogynistic film in recent memory." Its Los Angeles branch president at the time claimed the movie sent a message "that women like violence, women like to be used, women like to be raped." The film was also criticized for glamorizing cigarette smoking. Screenwriter Joe Eszterhas was later diagnosed with throat cancer and publicly apologized for glamorizing smoking in his films.

In 1992, in Les Herbiers, France, the mayor Jeanne Briand banned the movie in her municipality, claiming that this movie was "apologism for crime and violence, which exacerbates impulses that can lead to rape."

Renewed

Stone has alleged multiple times that a scene in which her vulva was exposed as she crossed her legs was filmed without her knowledge."A Conversation with Sharon Stone" from the ''Basic Instinct'': Ultimate Edition DVD (Lions Gate Home Entertainment, 2006). She said she was told that her lack of underwear would only be alluded to and not shown. She had been wearing white underwear until Verhoeven said it reflected light on the camera lens and asked her to remove it, assuring her that only a shadow would be visible. She said it was not until she saw the film in a screening room with a test audience that she became aware of the visible nudity, leading her to slap Verhoeven in the face and leave the screening.

In her 2021 memoir, Stone again stated that she was misled by Verhoeven with regard to the circumstance of the filming of the scene, even though she ultimately did not seek an injunction against it. Verhoeven responded that it was "impossible" and "she knew exactly what we were doing." However, despite having a "radically different" memory about the particular scene, he praised Stone's performance and said they are on good terms. In a 1998 '' Inside the Actors Studio'' interview, Stone said that while she was initially angry, she realized Verhoeven's decision was the right one, saying, "And I thought about it for a few days and I knew in my heart, he was right. I hated that it existed, I hated it more that he stole it from me instead of allowing me to choose. But he was right."

In a 1993 ''Entertainment Weekly'' interview, Jeanne Tripplehorn stated that the notorious "brutal, bruising sex" between her and Douglas's character was somewhat "lighter" when described to her by Verhoeven before shooting.

During the trial for Luka Magnotta for the murder of Jun Lin, the prosecution stated that Luka Magnotta stabbed Lin to death with a screwdriver painted silver in order to resemble the ice pick used by Stone's character, Catherine Tramell.

Awards and nominations

See also

*''Fatal Attraction'', a 1987 film, also starring Douglas, exploring similar themes
*'' Fatal Instinct'', a 1993 film parody

References

External links

*
*
*
*
*
*
*

''Basic Instinct''
at the British Film Institute
*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Basic Instinct
Basic Instinct
1992 films
1992 crime thriller films
1992 LGBTQ-related films
1992 psychological thriller films
1990s American films
1990s British films
1990s English-language films
1990s French films
1990s erotic thriller films
1990s feminist films
1990s mystery thriller films
1990s serial killer films
American crime thriller films
American erotic thriller films
American feminist films
American LGBTQ-related films
American mystery thriller films
American neo-noir films
American police detective films
American psychological thriller films
American serial killer films
British crime thriller films
British erotic thriller films
British feminist films
British LGBTQ-related films
British mystery thriller films
British neo-noir films
British psychological thriller films
British serial killer films
Carolco Pictures films
English-language crime thriller films
English-language erotic thriller films
English-language French films
English-language mystery thriller films
Erotic mystery films
Films about female bisexuality
Films about murderers
Films about rape in the United States
Films about sexuality
Films about writers
Films directed by Paul Verhoeven
Films produced by Alan Marshall (producer)
Films produced by Mario F. Kassar
Films scored by Jerry Goldsmith
Films set in San Francisco
Films shot in San Francisco
Films with screenplays by Joe Eszterhas
French crime thriller films
French erotic thriller films
French feminist films
French LGBTQ-related films
French mystery thriller films
French neo-noir films
French psychological thriller films
French serial killer films
LGBTQ-related controversies in film
LGBTQ-related thriller films
Obscenity controversies in film
Rating controversies in film
TriStar Pictures films
Films about psychopaths and sociopaths
Films about female psychopaths and sociopaths