Conducted and Produced by Jerry Goldsmith

Orchestrated by Alexander Courage

Performed by the National Philharmonic Orchestra

2004 Release Produced by Ford A. Thaxton

         Varese Sarabande Records                     Prometheus Records

     Basic Instinct is a controversial Paul Verhoeven film, with Verhoeven (naturally) being no stranger to controversy. What was different this time around was the fact that not only were the typical decency groups offended at the rampant sex and violence, but also various homosexual groups were outraged at the depiction of the film's bisexual characters. The inanity of this argument aside, the protests (as with what usually happens) simply garnered more interest in the film and the resulting box office receipts proved to be very well indeed. But popularity aside, Basic Instinct is quite a serviceable thriller that, while seeming to clearly show who the murderer is straight from the beginning, throws so many twists and turns your way that you don't know exactly who is to blame for anything by the time the film is over. For the score, Verhoeven turned to Jerry Goldsmith, who had previously worked with Verhoeven on Total Recall. While that film was vastly different in every way from Basic Instinct, Goldsmith, being the master that he is, had no trouble switching gears to this new endeavor. The resulting score again set the template for thriller scores that came after it and cemented Goldsmith's working relation with Verhoeven (he would end up scoring Hollow Man, Verhoeven's last American film up to this point, eight years later).

     With so many characters and twists within the film, Goldsmith's ability to keep everything in proper order and contained throughout his score is quite an accomplishment. The themes primarily work on situations as opposed to a per-character basis, but there are overlapping uses occasionally in order to help maintain consistency. The album opens with the Main Theme, a theme that serves primarily for situations involving Catherine's character. Low and brooding, though with a playful edge that never loses its malicious intent, Goldsmith interweaves this theme in numerous ways throughout the run of the score, and it is the primary centerpiece of the music. Another noticeable theme comes by way of the driving scenes (which usually involve some kind of car chase, though not in the traditional sense until the last such scene in the film). These moments allow Goldsmith to kick the score into action mode, though he tempers it with the same flowing style that everything else is molded into. Even so, these sequences have a tendency to become loud and boisterous, and after the sensuously dangerous music that bookends all these cues, they do tend to stand out.

     Even though Basic Instinct is an erotic thriller score, Goldsmith didn't neglect to throw in the synth effects that he is well known for. The result imbues the music with an even more pronounced mysterious quality that is just as unnerving as it is interesting. It's a slightly less harsh form than what was found in Total Recall, with some feeling of the V'Ger moments from Star Trek: The Motion Picture, but in a style that would be found most recently in another Trek film, Nemesis. While Goldsmith's use of synth is generally well done, here it seems to take on a perfect blending with the heavily string-based orchestra music and melds in a way that is generally not achieved by most film scores, past or present. It would be hard to divorce either the orchestra or the synth from this score, and while each has its own feel, the resulting blend is so perfect that it comes through as one intended whole.

     Now for the album history. The original Varese Sarabande album has been the de facto CD ever since the release of the film way back in 1992. At just under forty-five minutes, it hits the highlights of the score and does a good job at presentation, with the various short cues produced together in well-running suites. It's still available and is a good album overall. However, the new Prometheus release boasts better sound quality and the full score in chronological film order, along with extensive liner notes that offer some great insights into the score (courtesy of Gary Kester).

      While erotic thrillers are not known for their insightful and expertly composed scores, Goldsmith raises the bar so high that they usually can't even come close. Unless you just don't care for this genre coming from any composer, be sure to give one of this albums a new home in your collection.

Full Original Score:

Varese Sarabande Release:

Prometheus Release:

Varese Sarabande Release

1 - Main Title (Theme from Basic Instinct) (2:15)

2 - Crossed Legs (4:50)

3 - Night Life (6:03)

4 - Kitchen Help (3:59)

5 - Pillow Talk (5:00)

6 - Morning After (2:29)

7 - The Games Are Over (5:36)

8 - Catherine's Sorrow (2:41)

9 - Roxy Loses (3:17)

10 - An Unending Story (7:56)

Prometheus Release

1 - Main Title (2:13)

2 - First Victim* (1:39)

3 - Catherine & Roxy* (5:14)

4 - Shadows* (0:41)

5 - Profile* (0:49)

6 - Don't Smoke* (2:26)

7 - Crossed Legs (4:49)

8 - Beth & Nick (2:21)

9 - Night Life (6:03)

10 - Home Visit* (1:13)

11 - Your Wife Knew* (1:44)

12 - Untitled* (0:520

13 - That's Real Music* (0:27)

14 - One Shot* (1:27)

15 - Kitchen Help (3:58)

16 - Pillow Talk (4:59)

17 - Morning After (2:29)

18 - Roxy Loses (3:37)

19 - Catherine's Sorrow (2:41)

20 - Wrong Name* (2:22)

21 - She's Really Sick* (1:31)

22 - It Won't Sell* (1:02)

23 - Games Are Over (5:53)

24 - Evidence* (1:39)

25 - Unending Story / End Credits** (9:23)

26 - First Victim (alternate version)* (1:34)

* World Premiere Release

** Longer original film version