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Basic Instinct
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Synopsis
This cold, stylish erotic-thriller grossed over $100 million at the box-office despite vigorous protests at its depiction of gays and women. The shocking opening sequence features a graphic sexual encounter involving a rock-star bound with a white Hermes scarf by an unidentified blond woman. Despite the fact that the scene ends with a bloody icepick murder (horrifyingly realized by makeup artist Rob Bottin), Hermes scarves quickly sold out at stores nationwide. This seeming paradox is at the heart of the film's appeal, as it mixes perverse sexuality and erotic bloodshed in a manner common to European thrillers (director Paul Verhoeven had done it himself in 1979's marvelous De Vierde Man) but mostly taboo in America. The plot concerns Catherine Tramell (Sharon Stone), a successful bisexual mystery writer who may also be a ruthless murderer. Everyone close to Catherine dies, and troubled policeman Nick Curran (Michael Douglas) must find out why. In the process, Nick becomes sexually involved with both Catherine and police psychiatrist Beth Gardner (Jeanne Tripplehorn), while the bodies begin piling up and Catherine turns the cat-and-mouse game around on Nick. Verhoeven and screenwriter Joe Eszterhas -- who was paid $3 million for the script -- keep the tension ratcheted up throughout, even during the frequent sex scenes, which carry a violent edge reminiscent of the Italian thrillers of Dario Argento. The film's most notorious scene, a police interrogation in which Catherine makes drooling idiots out of her captors by revealing that she is not wearing underwear, became a cultural touchstone and was widely imitated and parodied. Sharon Stone, meanwhile, was embarrassed to the point that she claimed Verhoeven had aimed lights on strategic locations without her knowledge. George Dzundza and Dorothy Malone co-star. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide

Cast

Denis Arndt Lieutenant Walker
George Dzundza Gus
Wayne Knight John Correli
Dorothy Malone Hazel Dobkins
Benjamin Mouton Harrigan
Chelcie Ross Captain Talcott
Sharon Stone Catherine Tramell
Jeanne Tripplehorn Dr. Beth Gardner
Daniel Von Bargen Lieutenant Nilsen
Bruce A. Young Andrews
Michael Douglas Detective Nick Curran
Stephen Tobolowsky Dr. Lamott
Leilani Sarelle Roxy

Production Crew

Mark Billerman Art Director
Louis D'Esposito Associate Producer
William S. Beasley Associate Producer
Howard Feuer Casting
Jan de Bont Cinematographer
Jerry Goldsmith Composer (Music Score)
Ellen Mirojnick Costume Designer
Paul Verhoeven Director
Frank J. Urioste Editor
Mario Kassar Executive Producer
Louis D'Esposito First Assistant Director
David Forrest Makeup
Rob Bottin Makeup Special Effects
Robert "Bobby Z" Zajonc Pilot
Alan Marshall Producer
Terence Marsh Production Designer
Gary Goldman Screenwriter
Gary Goldman Screenwriter
Joe Eszterhas Screenwriter
Anne Kuljian Set Designer
David Lowery Storyboard Artist
Seth Arnett Stunts
Charlie Picerni Stunts Coordinator
Year: 1992
Runtime: 123
Country: USA
MPAA Rating: R
for strong violence and sensuality, and for drug use and language
Category: Feature

Genre
Thriller

Sound
Dolby

Produced by
Canal Plus
Carolco Pictures
LIVE Home Video
TriStar

Release
March 20, 1992 (USA)
by TriStar