Basic Instinct: The Novelization

“Basic Instinct” (1992)

Novelization by Richard Osborne

Based on the screenplay by Joe Eszterhas

In the interest of full disclosure, I am a huge fan of the film, the director, the two leads, the composer, and even the cinematographer. “Basic Instinct” was a screenplay I read endlessly when I was studying screenwriting.  This neo-noir classic is number ten on my all-time favorite film list. If Hitchcock were alive and at his peak in the early 90s, this is the kind of film he would have made.

There is a reason a Hollywood bidding war broke out for the rights to the “Basic Instinct” script. It is a fantastic screenplay with pristine structure, a sensational main character, and knockout, profane-laced, rhythmic dialogue. This novelization captures all of that and adds a sheen of literary flair reminiscent of a great piece of hard-hitting sexually charged pulp fiction noir. Richard Osborne adapts the screenplay with flawless execution, seamlessly blending his own words and style with Ezterhas’s, creating a fast-paced, titillating, addictive read.

As an added bonus, this book comes in a beautifully packaged hardcover with the classic poster art from the theatrical one sheet. Well-worth tracking down and reading for fans of the film or those who love erotic thrillers and pulp fiction.