Instinct 1999
Nothing is more savage than civilization. In a high‑security prison for the criminally insane, deranged anthropologist Ethan Powell becomes the subject of a study by ambitious young psychiatrist Theo Caulder. Fueled by a thirst for truth, Caulder throws caution to the wind, risking his career and even his life in a desperate bid to decipher Powell’s bizarre, violent behavior.
Does Instinct have end credit scenes?
No!
Instinct does not have end credit scenes. You can leave when the credits roll.
Where to Watch Instinct
See current US streaming, rental, and purchase options for Instinct (1999) via JustWatch.
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Meet the Full Cast and Actors of Instinct
Explore the complete cast of Instinct, including both lead and supporting actors. Learn who plays each character, discover their past roles and achievements, and find out what makes this ensemble cast stand out in the world of film and television.
Anthony Hopkins
Dr. Ethan Powell
Donald Sutherland
Ben Hillard
Paul Collins
Tom Hanley
Maura Tierney
Lynn Powell
Cuba Gooding Jr.
Dr. Theo Caulder
John Ashton
Guard Dacks
Paul Bates
Bluto
Pat McNamara
Dr. Josephson
Tory Kittles
Prisoner
Louanne Stephens
Marjorie Powell
Rex Linn
Gurad Alan
Kevin McNally
Prisoners
Marc Macaulay
Foley
George Dzundza
Dr. John Murray
Verne Troyer
Gorilla Performers
Ivonne Coll
Dr. Marzuez
John Munro Cameron
Gorilla Performers
Misty Rosas
Gorilla Performers
Jim R. Coleman
Guard #2
Ajgie Kirkland
Captain Kagona
Alex Kalognomos
Prisoners
John Travis
Bartender Mike
Dave Anthony
Gorilla Performers
John Aylward
Warden Keefer
Roger Floyd
Gilbert
Gary Bristow
Federal Marshall
Darren T. Knaus
Gorilla Vocals (uncredited)
Kevin-Michael Moore
Prisoners
Jay Caputo
Gorilla Performers
Jim Grimshaw
Boaz
Rod McLachlan
Guard Anderson
Linda Harmon
Singer (uncredited)
Kurt Smildsin
Guard #1
Tracey Ellis
Annie
Doug Spinuzza
Nicko
Vivienne Sendaydiego
Catherine
Thomas Q. Morris
Pete
Kim Ingram
Lester Rodman
Chike Kani Omo
David
Tyrone C. Wiggins
Soldier (uncredited)
David Deever
Man in Car
Tim Goodwin
Helmet Man
Jimmy Dipisa
Prisoners
Manwell Hendrix
Prisoners
Joe Tacke
Prisoners
Bertram Wallace
Prisoners
Garon Michael
Gorilla Performers
David St. Pierre
Gorilla Performers
Rico Paisley
Uniform Cop
M.J. D'Bella
Nurse
External Links and Streaming Options
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Full Plot Summary and Ending Explained for Instinct
Read the complete plot summary of Instinct, including all major events, twists, and the full ending explained in detail. Explore key characters, themes, hidden meanings, and everything you need to understand the story from beginning to end.
The film centers on the mind of anthropologist Ethan Powell, who has been missing for years and is found living among the mountain gorillas in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. He is condemned for killing and wounding several wilderness rangers, a crime that lands him in a harsh prison. A perceptive young psychiatrist, Theo Caulder, is assigned to unravel the truth behind the killings, and what begins as a standard case soon ripples into a broader meditation on human history, civilization, and our struggle with the natural world. Caulder questions whether civilization has progressively severed people from the wild and whether a new compass for living might emerge from an honest look at that history.
As Powell’s time with the gorillas unfolds, it becomes evident that the apes accepted him as part of their group, and Powell’s primary aim appears to be protecting his surrogate family from harm when poachers threaten them. The investigation pushes toward a formal hearing in which Powell’s account might finally be heard. A violent incident, an attack by a brutal guard on a fellow prisoner, triggers a flood of memories of the gorillas’ deaths and provokes Powell to react with force in defense, after which he is restrained and his voice goes quiet again.
In a dramatic turn, Powell finds a way to escape by using a simple pen to pick the lock on a prison window. He disappears into the wilderness and heads back toward Africa, leaving the truth, and the possibility of a final reconciliation with the gorilla family, unresolved but firmly in the air.
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Explore the mobile appWatch Trailers, Clips & Behind-the-Scenes for Instinct
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Cars Featured in Instinct
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Instinct Themes and Keywords
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Instinct Other Names and Titles
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