Will We Ever See Another "Basic Instinct" (not a remake)?
#1
DVD Talk Legend
Thread Starter
Will We Ever See Another "Basic Instinct" (not a remake)?
Thinking back to 1992 when this movie was released, there are a lot of aspects to this studio movie you never see anymore when it comes to erotic thrillers.
-A list talent and Oscar winning actor Michael Douglas in the lead.
- Auteur director Paul Verhoeven given a lot of creative control.
-Graphic sex, violence, nudity, and homosexuality (not graphic, but pretty in your face with its presentation) .
-A pretty large budget considering the content ($49 million, which probably approaches $100 million today).
-An original screenplay not based on a pre-existing property.
Please don't point to the "50 Shades" movies , it's a pre-existing property, and their content does not come close to Basic Instinct in terms of risque material.
-A list talent and Oscar winning actor Michael Douglas in the lead.
- Auteur director Paul Verhoeven given a lot of creative control.
-Graphic sex, violence, nudity, and homosexuality (not graphic, but pretty in your face with its presentation) .
-A pretty large budget considering the content ($49 million, which probably approaches $100 million today).
-An original screenplay not based on a pre-existing property.
Please don't point to the "50 Shades" movies , it's a pre-existing property, and their content does not come close to Basic Instinct in terms of risque material.
#2
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Will We Ever See Another "Basic Instinct" (not a remake)?
No, because pc politics wouldn't allow it, and they seem to be running Hollywood right now. Yeah guys enjoying seeing a naked woman is bad, but women objectiving men in Magic Mike is just fine.
Last edited by Bluelitespecial; 01-02-17 at 04:04 PM.
#3
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Will We Ever See Another "Basic Instinct" (not a remake)?
The rise of the internet and the proliferation of pornography on it, not to mention the MPAA's continued prudishness in its ratings, has made wide-release "erotic" films less appealing to both studios and audiences. I mean, why pay to go to a theater for a half-second glimpse of a vagina when you can stay home and get so much more for free?
Almost all similar films since Basic Instinct have flopped (including Basic Instinct 2), so studios aren't really lining up to spend money on them.
And yes, using a pre-existing property with an established fanbase is a lot less of a risk.
Finally, graphic violence has never really gone away, although it shifted to horror "torture porn," while most action movies watered it down to get PG-13 ratings, the better to get the teens in seats. Also, I feel homosexuality is just getting more and more "in your face," in TV and films as it's become a lot more acceptable to have such characters, although it's not often played up for its salaciousness like in Basic Instinct anymore.
Almost all similar films since Basic Instinct have flopped (including Basic Instinct 2), so studios aren't really lining up to spend money on them.
And yes, using a pre-existing property with an established fanbase is a lot less of a risk.
Finally, graphic violence has never really gone away, although it shifted to horror "torture porn," while most action movies watered it down to get PG-13 ratings, the better to get the teens in seats. Also, I feel homosexuality is just getting more and more "in your face," in TV and films as it's become a lot more acceptable to have such characters, although it's not often played up for its salaciousness like in Basic Instinct anymore.
#4
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Will We Ever See Another "Basic Instinct" (not a remake)?
It would be fun to see another movie like Basic Instinct or Showgirls made today. So many sjws would go nuts, protest, and would try to get it banned from theaters.
#5
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Re: Will We Ever See Another "Basic Instinct" (not a remake)?
No ... to spiral out of another thread, a studio will never allow a director to have that level of creative control. Plus there is no originality in Hollywood.
I actually don't think hiring talent (actors) would be an issue IF the project was a good project. Which leads me to ...
...The biggest problem is how a project like this would be approached. Today it would be tackled with the emphasis on "erotic" and not on "thriller". To be successful, the story should be in control and the actions of the characters should stem from it. Instead, we live in a day and age where Hollywood starts with a concept and fakes the story around it -- what gimmick can we market?
I actually don't think hiring talent (actors) would be an issue IF the project was a good project. Which leads me to ...
...The biggest problem is how a project like this would be approached. Today it would be tackled with the emphasis on "erotic" and not on "thriller". To be successful, the story should be in control and the actions of the characters should stem from it. Instead, we live in a day and age where Hollywood starts with a concept and fakes the story around it -- what gimmick can we market?
#7
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Will We Ever See Another "Basic Instinct" (not a remake)?
Not in the U.S. But foreign territories, sure. Blue is the Warmest Color, etc.
We WILL get in on television - premium programming. We get lots of sex on shows like Game of Thrones, Banshee, etc. That'll continue but not necessarily for mainstream theatrical U.S. flicks.
We WILL get in on television - premium programming. We get lots of sex on shows like Game of Thrones, Banshee, etc. That'll continue but not necessarily for mainstream theatrical U.S. flicks.
#8
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
Re: Will We Ever See Another "Basic Instinct" (not a remake)?
Isn't Fifty Shades kind of Basic Instinct for 2017? No A-List stars but big budget and high grosses.
#10
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Will We Ever See Another "Basic Instinct" (not a remake)?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_I...Color_(comics)
Sex is easier to sell in the privacy of one's home.
#12
DVD Talk Legend
#14
DVD Talk God
Re: Will We Ever See Another "Basic Instinct" (not a remake)?
There were so many Basic Instinct knockoffs in the mid to late 90's and early 2000's.
I know Shannon Tweed starred in quite a few of them.
Is the genre even relevant anymore in this day and age?
Jay G made some good points in his post. Basic Instinct 2 came out in 2006 and was a box office bomb. Shows the public had virtually no interest in it, plus being released 14 years later didn't help either with a much older Sharon Stone. The type of sex and sadistic violence that was introduced in the movie back then is pretty irrelevant now.
I know Shannon Tweed starred in quite a few of them.
Is the genre even relevant anymore in this day and age?
Jay G made some good points in his post. Basic Instinct 2 came out in 2006 and was a box office bomb. Shows the public had virtually no interest in it, plus being released 14 years later didn't help either with a much older Sharon Stone. The type of sex and sadistic violence that was introduced in the movie back then is pretty irrelevant now.
Last edited by DJariya; 01-02-17 at 04:59 PM.
#15
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Will We Ever See Another "Basic Instinct" (not a remake)?
Showgirls reunited both the writer and director of Basic Instinct and famously bombed.
I feel the timing is even worse now for a hit "erotic" original film in the US, but even back in the day, Basic Instinct was a bit of a fluke.
#16
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Will We Ever See Another "Basic Instinct" (not a remake)?
The original screenplay part would probably be hard to come by, but otherwise I don't see why not.
Mostly, the foreign scene has a lot of them with highly rated movies generally featuring something noteworthy in the original post.
Elle was supposed to be in English originally but apparently Verhoeven had trouble finding an actress for the role, largely due to the 3rd act which involves
The Handmaiden (which is unrated in the US but would be NC-17) is from the director of Oldboy and features prolonged lesbian lovemaking and the gruesome violence that the director is known for (albeit more restrained)
Of course, both of those are based on previously existing material.
Considering how successful Fifty Shades of Gray has been, I would expect a comeback for the erotic thriller in due time, granted they can get the actors and actresses to sign up for it. I think there will be another, original one, in the not too terribly distant future, hopefully there's some writing know-how out there. fwiw, I'd take another Wild Things too.
I'm actually not sure what Bluelitespecial is going on about in terms of sjw, two big things with them has been letting women be naked anytime they want and homosexuality, that actually helps out in this regard.
Mostly, the foreign scene has a lot of them with highly rated movies generally featuring something noteworthy in the original post.
Elle was supposed to be in English originally but apparently Verhoeven had trouble finding an actress for the role, largely due to the 3rd act which involves
Spoiler:
The Handmaiden (which is unrated in the US but would be NC-17) is from the director of Oldboy and features prolonged lesbian lovemaking and the gruesome violence that the director is known for (albeit more restrained)
Of course, both of those are based on previously existing material.
Considering how successful Fifty Shades of Gray has been, I would expect a comeback for the erotic thriller in due time, granted they can get the actors and actresses to sign up for it. I think there will be another, original one, in the not too terribly distant future, hopefully there's some writing know-how out there. fwiw, I'd take another Wild Things too.
I'm actually not sure what Bluelitespecial is going on about in terms of sjw, two big things with them has been letting women be naked anytime they want and homosexuality, that actually helps out in this regard.
Last edited by RichC2; 01-02-17 at 05:54 PM.
#17
Re: Will We Ever See Another "Basic Instinct" (not a remake)?
Not from a major studio, but someone who doesn't give a fuck like William Friedkin, Brian De Palma or Nicolas Winding Refn is capable of doing something like that.
#18
Re: Will We Ever See Another "Basic Instinct" (not a remake)?
Only if they look like Lena Dunham. If they look like Sharon Stone (ca. 1992) and men get excited, then it's a no-no. We can't privilege the hetero male gaze anymore.
#19
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Will We Ever See Another "Basic Instinct" (not a remake)?
#20
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Re: Will We Ever See Another "Basic Instinct" (not a remake)?
The problem is studios are so focused on the profitable PG-13 films that they don't want to divert funds and screens to "edgier" films that make $8 million bucks. As pointed out above, the market for these films dried up so fast after Basic Instinct that its questionable if there truly was a market beyond that film.
#21
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Will We Ever See Another "Basic Instinct" (not a remake)?
I have a theory that these types of movies went out of fad basically when the Internet took off (around 2000 or so). Prior to then - short of renting porn at the video store (and risking getting caught by someone you knew!) - having nudity was a huge selling point for movies (just look at all the erotic thrillers and raunchy sex comedies of the 80s and 90s). Once you could see stuff on your home computer for free, it was less of a big deal. Movies still have nudity to be sure, but they're rarely the selling point of the film anymore. Just my 2 cents worth.
#22
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#23
Re: Will We Ever See Another "Basic Instinct" (not a remake)?
#25