Leg Crossed, Eyes Locked: Basic Instinct’s Wild Legacy

Leg Crosses, Protestors, Deep Vs and an expensive House on a Cliff

“Killing isn’t like smoking. You can quit.”

This week on Unspooled, we take the ice pick to one of the most notorious—and misunderstood—erotic thrillers of all time: Paul Verhoeven’s Basic Instinct. You probably remember the leg cross. But there’s a whole lot more going on

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I LOVE A MAN IN A V-NECK

Vogue’s Liana Satenstein writes a great article on the allure of Michael Douglas’ V Neck.

The V-cut is just a slice of the chest, exposing the area ever so close to the heart. And whenever people bring up their instinctual ick, I think of the top sported by the police detective Nick Curran in Basic Instinct, played by Michael Douglas. Part of Curran’s carnal appeal has to do with his green sweater’s—you guessed it—V-neck cut, which is dagger sharp and hits right at the sternum. (Ice pick, anyone?)

Fashion writer Jason Diamond remarked that this look was like a “bat signal” to Catherine Tramell

The next time we see the sweater, Curran is back on the job, checking files and wearing the same V-neck with a buttoned collared shirt underneath. The raunchy effect has faded, and he’s now covered up and modest. Curran is just any other responsible man in the office.

But you can still smell the club on the knit, and so can Tramell; Curran goes to Tramell’s apartment and sleeps with her. The V-neck and the collared shirt it’s supposed to be paired with are now on the floor. All of those preppy, good-boy undertones are out the window. And wow, doesn’t it look great?

SNL INTERUPTED

On April 11, 1992, while Sharon Stone was hosting SNL, the live broadcast was disrupted by protesters. During the monologue, the protesters’ chants, including “Fight AIDS, not women!”, could be heard from the audience. Security personnel intervened, and six individuals were arrested for disorderly conduct and harassment. In subsequent reruns and official releases, the monologue was replaced with the dress rehearsal version.

SO MANY PARODIES

Some Other Notable Parodies

Loaded Weapon 1 (1993)

Family Guy

BASIC GREED: An Eszterhas Treatment of BASIC INSTINCT

Joe Eszterhas’ original outline laid the groundwork for the film.

Live like Catherine?

Catherine Tramell’s home in Basic Instinct is located at 157 Spindrift Road, Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. It’s has been listed for sale multiple times, with prices ranging from $16.9 million to $29.625 million (12,000 square feet, 5 bedrooms, 9 bathrooms, and a pool. The property has also been featured in other productions, including the HBO series Big Little Lies. See it in Architectural Digest

UNSPOOLED RECCOMENDS : Dive Deeper into Erotic Thrillers

• Double Indemnity (1944)

• Bound (1996)

• Crash (1996)

• Showgirls (1995)

Paul’s book, JOYFUL RECOLLECTIONS is out in PAPERBACK w/ 20 new Pages! Get a Signed Copy at Chevaliers or wherever you order books or BARNES & NOBLE and AMAZON

Also, check out all the special features here

UPCOMING SHOWS for Paul in LA and ONLINE

5/19 THE BENSON INTERUPTION - LIVE STREAMED

5/21 HDTGM with LISA GILROY

5/31 DINOSAUR at LARGO

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