IMDb RATING
5.7/10
8.3K
YOUR RATING
A cop who moonlights as a lawyer cheats on his wife, not knowing that she's cheating on him and plans to kill him for the insurance.A cop who moonlights as a lawyer cheats on his wife, not knowing that she's cheating on him and plans to kill him for the insurance.A cop who moonlights as a lawyer cheats on his wife, not knowing that she's cheating on him and plans to kill him for the insurance.
Michael MacLeod
- Freckle-Faced Kid
- (as Michael MacCleod)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured review
Carl Reiner, a man that knows about comedy, is the man behind this spoof on the noir genre. Mr. Reiner, working here with David O'Malley's screen play, has created a film that parodies movies like "Double Indemnity", "Basic Instinct", and "Fatal Attraction", among others, with great style.
The result is a film with some clever lines spoken by the cast as though they are acting in the prototype movies that Mr. Reiner is spoofing, with great panache. Not everything works, but when it does, the fun never seems to stop making us laugh.
The cast Mr. Reiner assembled is up to the task. Armand Assante is excellent as Ned Ravine, a man who is a policeman and lawyer and who does some excellent dancing in those red stiletto shoes his character seems to love. Sherilyn Fenn is the loyal secretary Laura. Kate Nelligan does an excellent imitation of Barbara Stanwyck as the scheming wife, Lana. Sean Young has some good moments in the film.
"Fatal Instinct" is a film to watch with a lot of friends. Mr. Reiner shows why he has been one of the best comic writers in America.
The result is a film with some clever lines spoken by the cast as though they are acting in the prototype movies that Mr. Reiner is spoofing, with great panache. Not everything works, but when it does, the fun never seems to stop making us laugh.
The cast Mr. Reiner assembled is up to the task. Armand Assante is excellent as Ned Ravine, a man who is a policeman and lawyer and who does some excellent dancing in those red stiletto shoes his character seems to love. Sherilyn Fenn is the loyal secretary Laura. Kate Nelligan does an excellent imitation of Barbara Stanwyck as the scheming wife, Lana. Sean Young has some good moments in the film.
"Fatal Instinct" is a film to watch with a lot of friends. Mr. Reiner shows why he has been one of the best comic writers in America.
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaSherilyn Fenn was originally considered for the role of the femme fatale Lola, eventually played by Sean Young. Fenn opted for the role of Armand Assante's lovesick secretary Laura and suggested director Carl Reiner cast Young as Lola.
- GoofsWhen the refrigerator opens to reveal Ned and Lola inside, a crew member's hand can be seen on the right side of the screen to catch the door as it opens.
- Quotes
Lola Cain: You really are incredibly stupid, aren't you? I like that in a man.
Ned Ravine: I don't look as dumb as I am.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: Tommy Lee Jones (1993)
- SoundtracksBrown Eyed Girl
Written and Performed by Van Morrison
Courtesy of Columbia Records
by arrangement with Sony Music Licensing
- How long is Fatal Instinct?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $7,839,327
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $3,502,569
- Oct 31, 1993
- Gross worldwide
- $7,839,327
- Runtime1 hour 31 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content