Instinct (2019 film)

Instinct is a 2019 Dutch drama film directed by Halina Reijn in her feature-length directorial debut from a script she co-wrote with Esther Gerritsen and it stars Carice van Houten and Marwan Kenzari. It follows Nicoline, a prison therapist who becomes obsessed with a patient, who is a serial rapist.

Development of the film started in 2015 under the name of Locus of Control based on a pitch by Reijn. She and Gerritsen did extensive research into the subject while writing the script, including a visit at a clinic. Filming took place in May 2018 over the course of 23 days on a modest budget.

The film had its premiere at the 72nd Locarno Film Festival and was the opening film at the 39th Netherlands Film Festival on September 27, it was released in Dutch theaters the following week. It received generally positive reviews from critics and was selected as the Dutch entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 92nd Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.