Can a thriller about mountain gorillas and human nature survive a critical mauling?
In short: Released in 1999, the psychological thriller Instinct explores the radical philosophy of an anthropologist who abandons civilization after living with gorillas in Uganda. While the film struggled to impress critics, it sparked a conversation about humanity's destructive relationship with the natural world and earned recognition for its animal rights themes.
Directed by Jon Turteltaub and starring Anthony Hopkins and Cuba Gooding Jr., Instinct follows the story of Ethan Powell, an anthropologist who vanishes into the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Upon his return, he is imprisoned for violence against park rangers, leading a young psychiatrist, Theo Caulder, to uncover the truth behind his transformation. The narrative suggests that civilization has systematically decimated the natural environment, a perspective loosely inspired by Daniel Quinn’s novel Ishmael.
The production, which served as the debut feature for Spyglass Entertainment, faced a difficult reception. Critics were largely unimpressed, with Rotten Tomatoes reporting a 26% approval rating and Metacritic assigning a score of 43 out of 100. Reviewers like Roger Ebert awarded it 1.5 out of 4 stars, citing a convoluted plot, though James Berardinelli offered a more balanced take, praising the directing and performances. Despite the lukewarm critical consensus, the film resonated with audiences, who gave it an A- grade via CinemaScore.
Commercially, the film underperformed, grossing approximately $34.1 million in the United States and Canada. However, its thematic focus on the plight of great apes earned it a Genesis Award in 2000. The film’s production history is equally notable, with Wolfgang Petersen shifting from a potential director to an executive producer role. Principal photography spanned from January to August 1998, ultimately resulting in a polarizing work that remains a curious artifact of late-nineties cinema.
The film’s conclusion—where Powell escapes to return to his primate family—underscores the central tension between human societal structures and the natural order. While the plot is often criticized for being predictable, the underlying message regarding the protection of animal life remains a defining feature of the project, distinguishing it from standard thriller fare of the era.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Instinct (1999 film)
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