Basic Instinct (1992)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Paul Verhoeven

Writer (WGA):

Joe Eszterhas (written by)

Release Date:

20 March 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Mystery | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

A brutal murder. A brilliant killer. A cop who can't resist the danger.

Plot:

A police detective is in charge of the investigation of a brutal murder, in which a beautiful and seductive woman could be involved.

Plot Keywords:

Detective | Suspect | Murder | Police | Novelist

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 16 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sun. Nov. 8	2:05 AM	MAX
Thur. Nov. 19	12:20 AM	MAX

Cast

Michael Douglas	...	Detective Nick Curran
Sharon Stone	...	Catherine Tramell
George Dzundza	...	Gus
Jeanne Tripplehorn	...	Dr. Beth Garner
Denis Arndt	...	Lieutenant Walker
Leilani Sarelle	...	Roxy
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

Also Known As:

Basic Instinct (France)
Ice Cold Desire (Singapore: English title) (censored version)
Love Hurts (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

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

Runtime:

127 min | USA:128 min (unrated version)

Country:

USA | France

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR | LC-Concept Digital Sound (France)

Certification:

Malaysia:(Banned) | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) (re-rating) (2001) | Canada:R (Manitoba/Ontario) (also director's cut) (Canadian Home Video rating) | Canada:R (Nova Scotia) (original rating) | Singapore:PG (video rating) (heavily cut) | USA:R (#31380) | Singapore:R21 (re-rating) (2007) | Finland:K-16 (video rating) (cut) (1992) | Finland:K-18 (theatrical rating) (1992) | Singapore:R(A) (cut) (1992) | Hungary:18 | India:A | Brazil:18 | Israel:18 (video rating) | Israel:X (original rating) | Philippines:R-18 | Norway:15 (DVD rating) | Argentina:18 | Australia:R | Belgium:KNT | Canada:18+ (Quebec) (also director's cut) | Chile:18 | France:-12 (re-rating) | France:-16 (original rating) | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:III | Ireland:18 | Italy:VM14 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:18 | Peru:18 | Portugal:M/18 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:Unrated (director's cut) | Mexico:C | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

1158 Montgomery Street, Telegraph Hill, San Francisco, California, USA

Company:

Carolco Pictures

Trivia:

Catherine's last name comes from Alan Trammell. Sharon Stone discovered that a trammell was a Scottish death shroud and complimented Joe Eszterhas on his subtlety with the choice, not believing the truth.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Nick gets up from bed, the scratches on his back are barely visible. When you see his back reflected in the mirror when he speaks with Roxy, the marks are bright red, bloody. When he returns to bed, they're the way they were in the previous scene.

Quotes:

[Nick just had rough sex with Beth]
Beth Garner: You've never been like that before. Why?
Nick: You tell me, you're the shrink.
Beth Garner: You weren't making love to me!
Nick: Well, who was I making love to?
Beth Garner: You weren't making love at all.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Roseanne: The Getaway, Almost (#8.7)" (1995)

Soundtrack:

Movin' On Up

the sexiest movie ever made

You know a movie achieves its objective when you think that a character is sexier than the person that plays her. That is exactly what Catherine Tremell does. She exudes sex and that is exactly her game. She knows that she can play with people's minds by using her beauty and her sex appeal. And she does it so well.

The epitome of this is the interrogation scene. Much has been made about nudity in film but this is one of those movies where every breast and every shot of someone's crotch is done so to further the plot. The famous scene that we have all witnessed now is a major part of Tremell's M.O. She knows there are a room full of men asking her questions and she uses that sexuality to play with them. And it works.

The cast and the script and the direction are top notch and the movie feels like it is one big game. And Catherine Tremell is the ultimate game master. I really loved this film and I rate it a perfect ten.