Taglines: Flesh seduces. Passion kills.
Basic Instinct movie synopsis. Nick Curran is in charge of the investigation of a brutal murder of a rock star, who has been killed using an ice pick. All the evidence points to a beautiful woman, Catherine, as the main suspect of the crime. Catherine is a psychologist and she’s written one crime novel, a story in which a similar crime is described.
Curran goes to Catherine’s house to interrogate her about the victim and what happened that night. Apparently, Catherine was a formal lover of the musician and she even spent that night with him, but she claims to have not killed him. Nick feels attracted immediately to Catherine, but she’s a quite intelligent woman who manages to avoid his questions cleverly, using her physical attributes and seductive personality.
Catherine has a romantic relationship with another woman, but that won’t be an obstacle for Nick, who everyday seems to be much more interested in her. But Nick’s been checked by a psychologist, Beth, who was his girlfriend in the past, because the detective had an alcohol problem. But the sexual attraction that Nick feels for Catherine, seems to provoke the problem again. Nick becomes Catherine’s lover, a fact that threatens to hinder the investigation and puts in danger his life, discovering a wild sexuality never experimented before. Nick’s convinced that Catherine is innocent, but maybe love and sex are blinding him in his way of unfolding the truth.
Basic Instinct is a 1992 American neo-noir erotic thriller film directed by Paul Verhoeven and written by Joe Eszterhas. The film follows San Francisco police detective Nick Curran (Michael Douglas), who is investigating the brutal murder of a wealthy rock star. During the investigation Curran becomes involved in a torrid and intense relationship with the prime suspect, Catherine Tramell (Sharon Stone), an enigmatic writer.
Eszterhas developed the script in the 1980s, which became a subject of a bidding war until Carolco Pictures acquired the rights to the film. From there, Verhoeven signed on to direct and Douglas and Stone joined the project, after many actresses were considered for the role of Tramell. Before its release, Basic Instinct generated heated controversy due to its overt sexuality and graphic depictions of violence, including a scene of rape. It was strongly opposed by gay rights activists, who criticized the film’s depiction of homosexual relationships and the portrayal of a bisexual woman as a murderous psychopath. In a 2006 interview, Stone alleged that a scene in which her vulva was exposed as she crossed her legs was filmed without her knowledge.
Basic Instinct premiered in Los Angeles on March 18, 1992, and was released in the United States by TriStar Pictures on March 20, 1992. The film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the performances of its cast, original score, and editing, but criticized its writing and character development. Despite initial mixed critical reception and public protest, Basic Instinct was a box office success, grossing $352 million worldwide, making it the fourth highest-grossing film of 1992. Several versions of the film have been released on videocassette, DVD, and Blu-ray including a director’s cut with extended footage previously unseen in North American cinemas.
About the Story
In San Francisco, homicide detective Nick Curran investigates the murder of retired rock star Johnny Boz, who has been brutally stabbed to death with an ice pick during sex with a mysterious blonde woman. Nick’s only suspect is Boz’s bisexual girlfriend, crime novelist Catherine Tramell, who has written a novel that mirrors the crime.
It is concluded that either Catherine is the murderer or someone is attempting to frame her. Catherine is uncooperative and taunting during the investigation, smoking and exposing herself during her interrogation. She has an alibi and passes a lie detector test. Nick discovers Catherine has a history of befriending murderers, including her girlfriend Roxy, who killed her two younger brothers, on impulse, when she was sixteen years of age, and Hazel Dobkins, who killed her husband and children for no apparent reason.
Nick, who accidentally shot two tourists while high on cocaine during an undercover assignment, attends counseling sessions with police psychologist Dr. Beth Garner, with whom he has an on and off affair. Nick discovers that Catherine is basing the protagonist of her latest book on him, wherein his character is murdered after falling for the wrong woman.
Nick also learns that Catherine has bribed Lt. Marty Nielsen of Internal Affairs for information from Nick’s psychiatric file and that Beth had previously given it to Nielsen after he threatened to recommend Nick’s termination. Nick assaults Nielsen in his office, and later becomes a prime suspect when Nielsen is killed. Nick suspects Catherine, and when his behavior deteriorates, he is put on leave.
Nick and Catherine begin a torrid affair with the air of a cat-and-mouse game. Nick arrives at a club and witnesses Catherine doing coke with Roxy and another man. Nick and Catherine dance and make out, and are later observed by Roxy, having violent sex in Catherine’s bed. Catherine ties Nick to the headboard with a white silk scarf, just as Boz was tied by the mystery blonde, but does not kill him. Roxy, jealous of Nick, attempts to run him over with Catherine’s car, but dies when the car crashes.
Catherine grieves over Roxy’s death and tells Nick about a previous lesbian encounter at college that went awry. She claims that the girl became obsessed with her, causing Nick to believe that Catherine may not have killed Boz. Nick identifies the girl as Beth, who acknowledges the encounter, but she claims it was Catherine who became obsessed. Additionally, Nick discovers that Beth and Catherine’s college professor was also killed with an ice pick in an unsolved homicide, and that the events inspired one of Catherine’s early novels.
Nick comes across the final pages of Catherine’s book in which the fictional detective finds his partner’s body in an elevator. Catherine then breaks off their affair, causing Nick to become upset and suspicious. Nick later meets his partner Gus Moran, who has arranged to meet with Catherine’s college roommate at an office building, hoping to reveal what really went on between Catherine and Beth.
As Nick waits in the car, Gus is stabbed to death with an ice pick in the elevator. Recalling the last pages of Catherine’s book, Nick runs into the building, only to find Gus’ body in a manner similar to the scene described. Beth turns up as if out of nowhere and explains that she received a message to meet Gus. Nick suspects Beth has murdered Gus and, believing that she is reaching for a gun, shoots her, but discovers that Beth was only fingering an ornament on her key chain.
Basic Instinct (1992)
Directed by: Paul Verhoeven
Starring: Michael Douglas, Sharon Stone, George Dzundza, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Leilani Sarelle, Bruce A. Young, Chelcie Ross, Dorothy Malone, Stephen Tobolowsky, Daniel von Bargen
Screenplay by: Joe Eszterhas
Production Design by: Terence Marsh
Cinematography by: Jan de Bont
Film Editing by: Frank J. Urioste
Costume Design by: Ellen Mirojnick
Music by: Jerry Goldsmith
MPAA Rating: R for strong violence and sensuality, and for drug use and language.
Distributed by: TriStar Pictures
Release Date: March 20, 1992
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