Basic Instinct, featuring Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone, is the edgy erotic-thriller that shocked audiences worldwide when it premiered in 1992. Douglas plays Nick Curran, a detective with a drinking problem and a soft spot for beautiful women. Stone is Catherine Tramell, a sexy crime novelist whose latest book’s plot seems to be playing out in real life when a rock star is murdered with an ice pick. As he investigates the murder, Curran’s suspicions about Tramell – and desire for her – spiral into a vortex of guilt, passion, and destruction, leading to one of filmdom’s most unforgettable twists.
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Video Quality
Lionsgate presents Basic Instinct with a sterling 2160p/Dolby Vision transfer derived from the 4K restoration of the unrated Original Camera Negative conducted by StudioCanal in 2020, which was supervised and approved by director Paul Verhoeven. We have never seen the ancient Blu-Ray release from 2007, but from most accounts, it appears to be a major disappointment. This upgrade in format allows the film to have a whole new life that is mighty impressive. The film was previously released on 4K UHD Blu-Ray overseas in 2021 from the same master, but it appears the new Lionsgate disc bests it with a stronger and more consistent encode. No matter what you are coming from, the improvements make this the best presentation on the market.
One of the greatest benefits of this viewing experience is the implementation of Dolby Vision/HDR. This technology really makes a difference, as it translates the specific look from Jan de Bont into an experience with rich nuances in the visual palette. Some audiences may not be on board with the color grade, but this was supervised by Verhoeven, and there does not appear to be a blanket color grade shift that plagues certain European restoration houses, especially. The opening ultraviolent sequence balances the light with the dark to perfection. Highlights offer great stability without veering into blooming, while black levels maintain a tremendous amount of depth and detail in darker environments. Skin tones look natural to their intended look. The color saturation on this disc is a thing of beauty.
Most viewers will not spot even the most minor specks of damage, as the print appears to be cleaned up spectacularly. Detail and clarity stand out as a major positive thanks to the natural film grain which remains intact. There are thankfully no signs that egregious grain reduction has been applied, as you get a pretty fine sheen that mostly resolves well. The texture revealed in the outfits, within the environments and in the makeup is much appreciated. Facial details such as stubble, perspiration and even some blood make an impression. The encode runs at a high bitrate with nothing much in the way of compression artifacts, banding, or other anomalies. This film has never looked so good on physical media, so Lionsgate has our respect for treating this title well.
Audio Quality
The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc comes with the standard DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track, but the real treasure of this release is the original theatrical stereo track presented in LPCM 2.0 audio that has not been available since the Laserdisc era. This is yet another addition that shows Lionsgate put a lot of effort into making this the ultimate release. The 5.1 track handles the material effectively with a nicely enveloping experience. The Jerry Goldsmith score especially permeates the room with the notes that set the tone for the story. This track handles it without issue throughout the film. The film implements a very layered and specific sound design which places emphasis on different key elements from scene to scene. While there is rarely a moment where it overshadows competing sounds, there are a few points when the dialogue can take a backseat and be buried in the mix somewhat. The environmental sounds are delineated effectively alongside everything else.
Whatever the 5.1 track does well, the original stereo track seems to do better. Some of the dialogue that gets a bit covered up in the more “expansive” track is suddenly more audible when you switch over to the stereo track. The track engages the front channels consistently with the memorable dialogue with admirable fidelity. The low end response introduces some welcome texture to pivotal moments in the surround sound track. There does not seem to be any majorly noticeable instances of age-related wear and tear in either track. Lionsgate has given this film a top-tier audio presentation that serves the movie well. Optional English, Spanish, and English SDH subtitles are provided.
Special Features
Lionsgate has provided Basic Instinct with a sleek new SteelBook available exclusively at Lionsgate Limited that is truly lovely in person. Videos of the SteelBook can be found at the beginning of this review.
4K UHD (Feature)
- Audio Commentaries
- Audio Commentary #1: Director Paul Verhoeven and Cinematographer Jan de Bont
- Audio Commentary #2: Journalist Camille Paglia
- Audio Commentary #3: Director Paul Verhoeven (1993)
- Introduction by Sharon Stone (0:14)
- 1993 Introduction by Paul Verhoeven (0:39)
- Basic Instinct – Sex, Death & Stone: A 53-minute documentary from 2020 detailing the legacy of the film through new interviews with screenwriter Joe Eszterhas, director Paul Verhoeven, Michael Douglas, Sharon Stone, and cinematographer Jan de Bont, amongst others.
- An Unending Story – Scoring Basic Instinct: A nearly 17-minute featurette on the career and background of Jerry Goldsmith along with the soundtrack he created for Basic Instinct.
- A Conversation with Sharon Stone: A 13-minute archival interview with the star who discusses working with Paul Verhoeven and more.
- Blonde Poison – The Making of Basic Instinct: A 30-minute archival making-of featurette produced for the DVD release.
- Cleaning Up Basic Instinct: A five-minute look at the effort to clean up the film for television broadcast.
- Storyboard Comparisons
- Love Scene (3:21)
- Car Chase (1:18)
- Elevator Murder (2:55)
- Original Screen Tests
- Sharon Stone (5:52)
- Jeanne Tripplehorn (3:02)
- Trailers
- 2021 4K Trailer (1:29)
- Theatrical Trailer (2:10)
- Director’s Cut Trailer (2:15)
- TV Spot (0:32)
Bonus Disc
- The Making of Basic Instinct EPK: A seven-minute promotional piece for the film.
- Inside Basic Instinct VHS Featurette: A nearly 17-minute featurette that offers yet another dive into the production of the film.
- Secrets of Basic Instinct Laserdisc Featurette: A 62-minute piece that offers an even deeper dive into the film.
- A Conversation with Sharon Stone
- Blonde Poison – The Making of Basic Instinct
- Cleaning Up Basic Instinct
- Video Scrapbook: A nearly five-minute behind-the-scenes look at the production.
- Storyboard Comparisons
- Original Screen Tests
- Trailers
Final Thoughts
Basic Instinct is an iconic erotic thriller that was a cultural phenomenon in a way that can scarcely be fathomed in a modern cinematic landscape. Characters are very complex and often challenge us with their morally bankrupt actions. Even when you are unsure about certain characters, the performers who bring them to life always deliver something pretty incredible. The narrative is twisty and gripping in a way that does not dissipate even upon subsequent viewings. We can see the influence this film had on future cinematic outings, and we must applaud this original landmark for its enduring impact. Lionsgate has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray with an exceptional A/V presentation and a staggering array of supplements, all in a gorgeous SteelBook package. If you are a fan of the film, this new release is a no-brainer. Recommended
Basic Instinct is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray in a Lionsgate Limited Exclusive SteelBook edition.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Lionsgate Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
