Basic Instinct is a 1992 thriller film, directed by Paul Verhoeven and written by Joe Eszterhas. It features Sharon Stone, Michael Douglas, Jeanne Tripplehorn and George Dzundza. The original draft titles included Ice Cold and Love Hurts. The film centers on detective Nick Curran (played by Douglas) investigating the extremely wealthy, manipulative novelist Catherine Tramell (played by Stone) on suspicion of murder after her boyfriend is brutally killed while having sex with a blonde wielding an icepick. A torrid affair ensues between Nick and Catherine.