Scrolling through my hard drive, I stumbled upon “Basic Instinct 2: Risk Addiction,” a film I downloaded last year but never got around to watching.
Having not seen the original “Basic Instinct,” I can’t compare the two, but I was captivated by this sequel. The story revolves around Catherine Tramell (Sharon Stone), a novelist who becomes entangled with psychoanalyst Dr. Michael Glass (David Morrissey). Dr. Glass suspects Tramell is a killer. As they become more deeply involved, people connected to Dr. Glass start dying, and he slowly loses himself. Ultimately, the doctor kills a police, but is deemed unfit to stand trial due to mental health issues.
A Bold Take on the Thriller Genre
“Basic Instinct 2” takes a bold approach by largely dispensing with suspense. Many contemporary thrillers, like “Perfect Strangers” and “Gone Baby Gone,” keep the audience guessing until the very end. While thrilling, these films can sometimes lose their appeal once the mystery is solved. But “Basic Instinct 2” is different, the killer almost immediately. The opening scene shows the writer after she drives a car into a lake, in an elegant, calm state, She escapes, leaving a black athlete to drown: I immediately knew she was the killer. The film’s cleverness lies in the way it plays with the viewer’s certainty. You might be convinced Tramell is guilty, then doubt yourself as the plot thickens, only to reaffirm your original belief later. This cycle keeps you engaged throughout the film.
Excellent Performances
Critics noted Sharon Stone’s portrayal of deterioration. The actress displayed an excellent performance. She played a great and mature writer with full of experience and evil. She also knew how to play with men. If the role were to be played by 20s actress with perfect figure, that would be not be ok. Stone on the other hand. Perfectly played the role with her acting skill and experiences. If the young actress played the role. Then doctor would only be infatuated by her apperance. David, acted really well. His acting skill brought out the character’s internal struggle effectively.
In the end, Catherine visits Dr. Glass in the mental hospital, presenting him with her new book (based on his experiences, but portraying him as the killer). She is control the whole time, But, the slight smirk showed the doctor’s face gave the audience another surprise!