Plot Summary
In San Francisco, a blonde woman ties retired rock star Johnny Boz to a bed with a silk scarf during sex, then stabs him to death with an ice pick. SFPD Detective Nick Curran and his partner, Gus Moran, investigate the murder. The prime suspect is Boz’s girlfriend, crime novelist Catherine Tramell, whose latest novel mirrors the details of the killing. Catherine is uncooperative with the investigators, taunting them by smoking during questioning and exposing herself. Though released for lack of evidence, she becomes a person of interest when Nick learns that she has a history of close relationships with violent individuals.
These include her girlfriend Roxanne “Roxy” Hardy, who killed her younger brothers as a teenager, and Hazel Dobkins, a convicted family murderer. Nick, a recovering alcoholic with a history of drug abuse and a prior incident in which he accidentally shot two tourists, attends mandatory counseling with police psychologist Dr. Elizabeth Garner, with whom he has an unstable romantic relationship. He discovers that Catherine is using him as the inspiration for a new character—a detective who is murdered after falling for the wrong woman. When Nick suspects that his confidential psychiatric file has been leaked, he assaults internal affairs lieutenant Marty Nilsen, who had access to the file.
Nilsen is later found murdered, and Nick is placed on administrative leave. At Boz’s nightclub, Nick sees Catherine and Roxy using cocaine. Later, at Catherine’s home, she ties Nick to the bed during sex while Roxy watches. Moran expresses concern about Nick’s involvement with Catherine and uncovers that Nilsen received a $50,000 payment months before Nick met her. Roxy, jealous of Nick, attempts to kill him in a car attack but dies in the ensuing crash. Catherine reveals that she had an intense relationship with a woman in college who became obsessed with her.
Meet the Cast
Info & Stats
Director:
Paul Verhoeven
Writer:
Joe Eszterhas
Stars:
Michael Douglas, Sharon Stone, George Dzundza
Categories:
Thriller, Mystery
Budget:
$49,000,000.00
Revenue:
$352,927,224.00
Age: R | Duration: 2h 8m
Watch the Trailer