Basic Instinct

Basic instinct is a great example of a ‘Male Gaze’ film as well as a great example of a strong female lead in a film. Sharon Stone dominates the screen whenever she is on and captivates the audience. She plays an author who is dragged into a murder mystery. Throughout the film she always comes across as though she is the killer, even in the eyes of Michael Douglas’ character. His character is interestingly influenced by Sharon Stone’s, He had given up drinking, drugs and promiscuous sex for 6 months but as soon as he meets Sharon Stone, he immediately falls for her and her influential ways.

Paul Verhoeven did a great job at directing the film, especially the famous interrogation scene. Throughout the scene the camera gets closer and closer to Sharon Stone’s face every time she has to answer a question, which she does with ease. In one part of the scene she has everyone in the room staring at her and getting distracted by her beauty and flirtation. When she answers a particular question, there is an extreme close up of her talking to the police but straight at the camera. This is a strong shot as it puts the audience in the place of the police, who no doubt were feeling similar.

In a later scene we Michael Douglas go to Sharon Stone’s house to find her undressing herself and walking off naked. He had followed her all day as she is a suspect of a murder but is obvious that he followed her at his own interests. Twice in the film we see him watching her get undressed and becoming more and more obsessed with her despite the accusation of murder.

Even though there is a ‘Male Gaze’ subject to the film, it is clear that Sharon Stone is in charge and isn’t vulnerable in the slightest. She owns the film and very easily captivates the audience, which worked exceptionally well thanks to the way it was shot and the way she acted.