Fatal Instinct

Fatal Instinct is a dark comedy thriller directed by Bruce Malmuth, released in 1993. The film stars Armand Assante as Ned Ravine, a charming and morally flexible police officer who moonlights as a lawyer, often defending his own arrestees in his professional capacity. Initially, Ned appears to be a straight-shooting and honest cop, but this façade gradually crumbles as the story unfolds. He is drawn into a complex web of deceit and betrayal, courtesy of a seductive temptress named Lola Cain, played by Sherilyn Fenn. Ned and Lola's affair is ignited during a particularly grueling night at the police station, as they become embroiled in a heated game of cat and mouse with a group of burglars. Meanwhile, Ned's wife, Lana, played by Kate Nelligan, is secretly carrying on an affair of her own with an equally unscrupulous colleague, a lawyer named James Winter, portrayed by Erich Lowe. Despite her husband's infidelity, Lana is not prepared to give up on her own extramarital escapades, and she sees Ned's insurance policy as a convenient means to gain financial independence and freedom from her troubled marriage. As Lana and her lover, James, hatch a plot to murder Ned, they meticulously plan and execute a series of deceptions, exploiting Ned's trusting and loyal nature. Their scheme involves orchestrating an accident that will look suspiciously like a robbery gone wrong, all while collecting triple indemnity on Ned's life insurance policy. However, Ned's own moral flexibility and questionable ethics make him increasingly susceptible to the machinations of Lola Cain, who uses her cunning and intelligence to manipulate the officer into becoming embroiled in her own underworld dealings. As their complex and tumultuous affair deepens, Ned becomes increasingly isolated from his friends, family, and colleagues, making him an easy target for Lana and her accomplice. Throughout the film, the characters' complex relationships and motivations are woven together in a tangled web of deceit, desire, and betrayal. The plot takes a number of unexpected twists and turns, keeping the audience guessing about the ultimate fate of the main characters and whether they will manage to escape the complex and deadly entanglements that have consumed their lives. One of the primary themes of Fatal Instinct is the corrupting influence of power and the ease with which individuals can become trapped in their own webs of deceit. As the story unfolds, it becomes increasingly clear that none of the main characters is immune to the temptation of power, desire, and money, and each is willing to use underhanded means to achieve their goals. The performances in Fatal Instinct are generally solid, particularly those of Assante and Fenn, who bring depth and nuance to their characters. Fenn's portrayal of Lola Cain is especially compelling, as she expertly conveys the complexity and vulnerability of this enigmatic and seductive character. While the film takes its title from the fatal attraction between Ned and Lola, it is ultimately a commentary on the darker aspects of human nature, revealing how easily individuals can become trapped in their own deceitful and manipulative relationships.