Instinct

Instinct

Nothing is more savage than civilization.

Directed by Jon Turteltaub

Produced by Spyglass Entertainment, Touchstone Pictures

1999124 min6.5 / 10

A dark psychological thriller about a psychiatrist's dangerous obsession with understanding a violent, enigmatic anthropologist in a prison for the criminally insane.

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.

Where to watch

Questions people ask

  • Is Instinct scary? Yes. More frightening than 82% of films.

  • Is Instinct easy watching? Not especially. Less comforting than 74% of films.

  • Is Instinct violent? Somewhat. More violent than 72% of films.

  • Does Instinct end with hope? Not especially. Less hopeful than 70% of films.

  • Is Instinct sad? Somewhat. More sad than 61% of films.

These describe how the film comes across, measured across the whole film and compared with other well-known films. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked scene by scene, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.

Written about

47/ 100

Cinnamon Score

How much this film gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.

Familiar shape, done well.

Rarity37

How unlike any other film this one feels

Surprise59

How much more it delivers than it promises

Love45

How much audiences actually like it

The highest scores in the catalogue →

Ensemble

Everything like Instinct, and what each one shares →

Like Instinct

Nearest across the full emotional profile.

Same Mood as Instinct

Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.

Like Instinct, But Darker

Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.

Like Instinct, But Lighter

Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.

Like Instinct, But Less Popular

Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.

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