
Beth Garner, with whom he has an on-and-off affair. Nick, who accidentally shot two tourists while high on cocaine during an undercover assignment, attends counseling sessions with police psychologist Dr. Nick discovers Catherine has a history of befriending murderers, including her girlfriend Roxy, who impulsively killed her two younger brothers when she was sixteen years of age, and Hazel Dobkins, who killed her husband and children for no apparent reason.

She passes a lie detector test and is released. Catherine is uncooperative and taunting during the investigation, smoking and exposing herself during her interrogation. It is concluded that either Catherine is the murderer or someone is attempting to frame her. Nick's only suspect is Boz's girlfriend, crime novelist Catherine Tramell, who has written a novel that mirrors the crime. In San Francisco, homicide detective Nick Curran investigates the murder of retired rock star Johnny Boz, who has been stabbed to death with an ice pick during sex with a mysterious blonde woman. The film was later 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." A sequel released fourteen years later, Basic Instinct 2, also starred Stone and was made without Verhoeven's involvement the film received negative reviews and was relatively unsuccessful. 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. Despite these reviews and public protest, Basic Instinct was a box office success, grossing $352 million worldwide, making it the fourth highest-grossing film of 1992 behind Disney's Aladdin, The Bodyguard, and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. It received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the performances of its cast, original score, and editing, but criticized its writing and character development. īasic Instinct premiered in Los Angeles on March 18, 1992, and was released in the United States by TriStar Pictures on March 20, 1992. In one scene, Stone's vulva was filmed as she crossed her legs, which she claimed was done without her knowledge, a claim denied by the director. Gay rights activists criticized the film's depiction of homosexual relationships and the portrayal of a bisexual woman as a murderous psychopath.
Before its release, Basic Instinct generated controversy due to its overt sexuality and violence, including a rape scene. From there, Verhoeven signed on to direct and Douglas and Stone joined the project, after many actresses were considered for the role of Tramell. It became a subject of a bidding war until Carolco Pictures acquired the rights to the film. During the investigation, Curran becomes involved in a torrid and intense relationship with the prime suspect, Catherine Tramell ( Sharon Stone), an enigmatic writer.Įszterhas developed the script in the 1980s.

The film follows San Francisco police detective Nick Curran ( Michael Douglas), who is investigating the brutal murder of a wealthy rock star. Basic Instinct is a 1992 neo-noir erotic thriller film directed by Paul Verhoeven and written by Joe Eszterhas.
