“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.
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