Cruel Intentions

TV shows based off of popular movies are nothing new. Even more so from movies released in the 90s/early 2000s. Adding to that very long list is Cruel Intentions, the cult classic from 1999. We thought that before the release of the TV show we should revisit the classic film. The casting in this film is one of the many things that makes this film iconic. Selma Blair, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Joshua Jackson, Ryan Phillipe and Reece Witherspoon made this film timeless.

The 1999 film currently has an 80% audience score on rotten tomatoes and remains one of the most popular films of the era. Set in New York, like most iconic films. And the story centers two step siblings with a knack for causing chaos.

The original film is loosely based off the novel dangerous liaisons,

The scene where Katheryn teaches Cecile how to kiss was definitely my gay awakening.

The all star cast really does carry this movie. The film is written very well but it's best parts are highlighted by a truly incredible cast.

“Everybody does it, it's just that nobody talks about it”

I will say that as bad as Katheryn is, her monologue about how women have to stay buttoned up in order to be viewed as ladies but men can do whatever and whoever they want is great. It was ahead of it's time. Barbie’s monologue does not compare.

Sebastian starts to fall for Annette as one does in all rom coms that involve a bet. Here’s the thing, Annette ends up caring about him in a way that I will never understand. Yes most of the time if a rom com involves a bet the couple ends up together. But normally those leading men don’t have a past like Sebastian's. There is no world where a man who posts nude photos of a woman on the internet is worth any kind of redemption.

Also the rewatch is a little rough because Sebastian goes from using her as a toy to in love real quick and we really don’t see any change in him leading up to their big make up moment. He had sex with Cecile not 24 hours before he decided he couldn’t seduce Annette, so how much did he actually change? Even Katheryn calls him out on his bullshit.

I think anyone that sees Katheryn as the only villain or feels any sympathy or love for Sebastian needs a hard reality check. Cause ya’ll are definitely the girls who fall for just the stupidest most manipulative men in the world. Really falling for the bare minimum over here.

Also the fact that Annette and Sebastion really only knew each other for a few days and we’re dropping the L word over here. Annette starts this story by saying that people their age aren’t mature enough to understand those kinds of emotions then turns around a few days later, says I love you and sleeps with someone she barely knows. That's some weak shit.

The movie holds up okay, I am not really sure how they are going to turn this into a series. Especially if they plan on it being more than one season, I also don't know if there is really an audience for watching something like this on an indefinite basis. I think the audience that they are going to want to appeal to is the original Gossip Girl fans, We are used to rooting for terrible people and forgiving them for doing terrible things. That said I don’t yet know if that is the way that they went with it. We will see if they even intend for this series to last longer than a season.