Basic Instinct
Directed by Paul VerhoevenA violent police detective investigates a brutal murder that might involve a manipulative and seductive novelist.
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Basic Instinct Ratings & Reviews
- Jakeys24 December 2025I thought it was a classic, surprised reading after it's actually not that well regarded? I was hooked the whole way.
- Ommar1 day agoThe Critics ain't shit!!! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- ርልዪረ21 February 2025Basic Instinct is a very stylish murder mystery, filled with attractive people and ambiguous clues that keep the viewer guessing until the final scene. As has been mentioned, there are echoes of Hitchcock's Vertigo throughout the film, including the San Francisco setting, the attire of the female lead (Catherine, played by Sharon Stone), the styling of her hair, the background music, the shots of interior stairwells, and the lead character (Nick, played by Michael Douglas) following Catherine around the city in his car. The apartment of Beth (played by Jeanne Trippehorn) might also remind one of Rear Window. Many of the characters have emotional/psychological problems like addiction, dependency, or worse. This makes it more difficult for the viewer to determine the motivations of the suspects. Nick--the filter through which we see all evidence--is flawed. We learn that he has had problems with cocaine and alcohol. Sexually, he is ripe for exploration and, maybe, manipulation. The film walks a fine line between revelation and obfuscation. In the course of the story, murders are committed, and we are given just enough information to pull us deeper into the mystery, but not enough to reveal the truth. Even the ending leaves the future ambiguous. This is an excellent mystery for the nineties. The acting is excellent, especially that of Sharon Stone who plays the rabbit we gladly follow down the rabbit hole where the rules of the game are confusing and constantly changing.
- MJ Media22 February 2025Hitchcock in intensity and portions of the camera work. Brian de Palma shock value. Over-the-top acting per direction is almost humorous. More skin than anticipated. The strength of Douglas vs Stone, in her first dramatic role, carries the story.
- Cubane17 January 2026Nick be like: "I can fix her."
Basic Instinct Trivia
Basic Instinct was released on 20 March 1992.
Basic Instinct was directed by Paul Verhoeven.
Basic Instinct has a runtime of 2h 8m.
Basic Instinct was produced by Alan Marshall.
The key characters in Basic Instinct are Detective Nick Curran (Michael Douglas), Catherine Tramell (Sharon Stone), Gus (George Dzundza).
Basic Instinct is rated 18.
Basic Instinct is a Mystery, Thriller, Drama film.
Basic Instinct has an audience rating of 6.4 out of 10.