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Instinct
1999 124 min United States of America R 16+
★6.0
Drama, Thriller
Director: Jon Turteltaub
📖 Based on the novel
«Ishmael»
byDaniel Quinn
Trailers
Description
In a prison for the criminally insane, deranged anthropologist Ethan Powell is set to be examined by a bright young psychiatrist, Theo Caulder. Driven by ambition and a hunger for the truth, Caulder will eventually risk everything—even put his very life on the line—in a harrowing attempt to understand the bizarre actions of this madman.
Budget:
$80M
US Gross:
$34.11M
Worldwide:
$34.11M
Starring
Anthony Hopkins
Actor
Cuba Gooding Jr.
Actor
Donald Sutherland
Actor
Awards
1 win & 2 nominations total
Key opinion
Instinct is a divisive psychological drama that relies heavily on Anthony Hopkins' central performance to explore themes of environmentalism and human nature. While some viewers find its philosophical inquiries deeply resonant and emotionally moving, others dismiss the film as naive, logically inconsistent, and tonally heavy-handed.
| Acting | Anthony Hopkins delivers a compelling, intense performance that serves as the film's primary anchor. | |
| Theme | The narrative's exploration of human obsession, societal control, and the disconnect from nature resonates deeply with many viewers. | |
| Screenplay | Critics and audiences are sharply divided over the screenplay; some praise its ambitious philosophical inquiries, while others criticize it as simplistic, naive, and filled with underdeveloped dialogue. | |
| Direction | Opinions on the film's execution are split, with some appreciating the dark, tense atmosphere of the prison setting, while others find the direction clunky and the pacing sluggish. | |
| Ending | The ending remains a point of contention, with some viewers finding it an authentic, hopeful resolution to a dark story, while others view it as narratively incomplete or unsatisfying. |