“Basic Instinct” was a landmark for erotic thrillers, and few of its kind have bested it since. Yet the true mystery remains just how intense the behind-the-scenes production for “Basic” really was.

Thomas Butt is a senior writer. An avid film connoisseur, Thomas actively logs his film consumption on Letterboxd and vows to connect with many more cinephiles through the platform. He is immensely ...