In Maslow's theory, the most basic needs of people are "physiological needs", that is, instinct. Freud classified this instinct into survival instinct and death instinct.
The survival instinct includes sex and survival, and its purpose is to reproduce. The death instinct is full of hatred, wounding, and killing, and its purpose is to obliterate the existence of others (even one's own).
Can we understand it this way: the death instinct is more inclined to obliterate the existence of others, so as to increase the probability of self-survival. For example, in a war between ancient tribes, if other tribes are eliminated, this tribe can get more food, territory (development), and women/men (proliferation).
The biggest highlight of "Instinct" is not the description of the survival instinct (sex), but the display of the death instinct.
Three women, Katherine, Roxy, and the old woman, kill their families.
A man, Nick, kills tourists.
Death instinct, haunting.
When the instinct is released, it is close to madness, reckless, like Nick's rape of Beth.
Nick's initial instinct told him that Katherine was the murderer because he could sense this death instinct. So, is Katherine just killing by instinct, or is there another motive?
Killing parents, instinctive, may be subconscious, or just a "prank" of a teenage girl (17 years old).
Psychology courses at the university, let Katherine understand the death instinct. In the process of writing her first novel, Catherine came to a deeper understanding of this instinct through Roxy and the old woman.
Later, while planning her second novel, she discovers her former college girlfriend, Beth. So there was an impulse for revenge, and at the same time she planned to collect materials for a new novel.
This may be Catherine's motive for killing, consciously releasing her instinct - revenge, and writing a shocking novel.
The deaths of the Rocker, Roxy, Officer Gass, and even Officer Nelson were all part of revenge. Nick is also just being used.
The ultimate goal, Beth.
PS:
1. The old woman is a very important character. She not only makes Catherine recognize her death instinct, but also an accomplice of Catherine's revenge.
2. The death of the university professor, Beth's husband, and Catherine's husband is not necessarily related to the motive for the murder. The redundant content of the story is sometimes necessary.
3. The screenwriter of this film seems to be very bad, and won a bunch of Golden Raspberry Awards. Perhaps the director's adaptation is the key to the success of "Instinct".
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