“Cruel Intentions” is a series starring Sarah Catherine Hook and Zac Burgess. With Savannah Lee Smith, Sara Silva, and John Harlan Kim. It is created by Phoebe Fisher and Sara Goodman.
Years ago, in 1999, Roger Kumble had the brilliant idea to adapt Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’ famous novel into a modern setting. The film became a huge hit among the youth of its time, securing its place as one of the most celebrated teen movies of that era.
Now, Prime Video brings us a fresh adaptation, this time in the form of a series. It updates some elements of the original film, setting the story in the contemporary world of a university campus. Nevertheless, it retains the core essence of the movie and its primary objective: to present a group of carefree, malicious, and attractive teenagers in a blend of comedy and drama, spiced up with plenty of provocative moments.
However, the novelty of the film is largely lost in this remake, which adds little of substance to a tale that has already been told.
Plot
Caroline and Lucien are two step-siblings who navigate campus life in a similar fashion: by seducing anyone they desire and using their social and seductive skills to manipulate those around them. Everything changes with a bet: Caroline challenges Lucien to seduce Annie, the vice president’s daughter.
About the Series
The series boasts solid production values, excellent setting, and good actors who bring the story to life, albeit one that has been previously explored. It introduces some new plot elements, such as the theme of political influence, and the shift from Manhattan to a university campus is a well-considered move.
“Cruel Intentions” is clearly designed to push the sexual component of the storyline to its limits, delving into drugs, university life, and characters who derive amusement from their malevolent actions. Yet, “Cruel Intentions” doesn’t manage to be as provocative as the original film, nor does it offer anything groundbreaking in the landscape of current teen series. It falls short in terms of both aesthetic and thematic innovation, resulting in an extended retelling of the film’s themes.
The series embraces its superficial intentions and maintains them throughout, but it also treats its characters with the same lightness. This approach may work for a ninety-minute film but becomes somewhat tedious in a drawn-out script.
Although the actors deliver commendable performances, they fail to make the audience forget the original cast, despite the producers’ efforts to find physically similar replacements. However, the era has changed, and this update feels forced, ultimately failing to convince in both narrative and production, which comes across as too television-like to be truly provocative.
Our Opinion
While the series is entertaining, it remains mired in the intentions of the original film, overstretching a story that has already been told more effectively, particularly in terms of character development. Its primary goal of provocation feels overly restrained in today’s context.
This adaptation struggles to innovate, and its prolonged narrative does not offer the freshness or excitement that might have been expected. In conclusion, it rehashes old ground without bringing anything significantly new to the table, making it an extended and somewhat less engaging version of the movie.
Where to Watch “Cruel Intentions”
