Basic Instinct

Sex + Violence: The Films of Paul Verhoeven, Part IV

After back-to-back sci-fi hits with ROBOCOP and TOTAL RECALL, Paul Verhoeven took a surprising left turn. Instead of another effects-heavy blockbuster, he chose a smaller, more intimate (but no less explosive) project—a sexually charged neo-noir thriller that would push American taboos to the brink.

That film was BASIC INSTINCT.

In this episode, we trace the origin of BASIC INSTINCT, from Joe Eszterhas’s record-breaking screenplay sale to the casting of Sharon Stone and Michael Douglas, to the intense scrutiny and controversy the film faced both during production and after release. We also unpack how the film plays today, and how Verhoeven’s unique blend of sexual provocation and formal precision made BASIC INSTINCT one of the defining—and most debated—films of the 1990s.

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Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy.

This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, Justin Bishop, and Todd A. Davis.