Why is it that romantic thrillers always have titles with two words:
”Fatal Attraction,” ”Jagged Edge,” ”Final Analysis,” and the newest example, ”Basic Instinct?” What`s the deal? Well, whatever, ”Basic Instinct” definitely stands out among the bi-worded rest, pitting a bisexual psycho against a reformed coke-head cop.
Michael Douglas plays Nick Curran, the ex-druggie in question. He`s bitter and annoyed with his life, and his not-so-Officer-Friendly-type methods of police-businessing have rendered him under the watchful eye of the department.
He is assigned a case in which murders have been performed during sex, and with an ice pick. So he traces everything to this mystery writer/bisexual weirdo Catherine Tramell (Sharon Stone, the bombshell for the `90s), who coincidentally, wrote a book in which a series of murders were committed using an ice pick, often during violent sex. Imagine that.
So Curran drags her downtown, questions her, finds almost nothing, and takes her home. However, something inside him is telling him that this woman is what he needs to ameliorate the state of his miserable existence. The remainder of the film is spent watching Curran struggle between his genitals and his common sense, managing to involve himself in a giant web of betrayal and confusion.
Stone is icy and wonderful as the blond slasher, and Douglas is adequate as the suave yet horny cop. The movie, at times, is too confusing and cheeky, recalling scenes from ”Fatal Attraction” way too often. When all is said and done, you`ll like this film, but you`ll hate yourself in the morning. (STAR) (STAR)(STAR)
