DVD Sebastian is Kathryn's stepbrother, and both are spoilt, unscrupulous rich kids. After Sebastian beds and ruins the reputation of an unsuspecting classmate, his stepsister hands him the ultimate challenge - bed the headmaster's virgin daughter Annette. The prize is something Sebastian cannot resist.
Details
The prize in question is that Sebastian gets to sleep with Kathryn and do anything he likes to her. Since Kathryn is the only woman who will not fall for his charms, Sebastian cannot resist the challenge. Unfortunately for him, if he fails he loses his beloved classic Jaguar. The odds are stacked against him when he discovers that someone has warned Annette about his reputation for one-night stands.
Based loosely on Dangerous Liaisons, Cruel Intentions is ultimately a far more accessible and watchable film, blending humour with sexual tension. The characters are quite complex and those of you (myself included) who are fans of Buffy The Vampire Slayer may be surprised by Sarah Michelle Gellar's performance. Her character is bitchy, spoilt and manipulative - at one point telling a friend's mother "I turn to God when things go wrong", only to snort drugs from a crucifix the moment the mother leaves.
Sebastian is hardly any better. He is just as manipulative, bedding almost any woman he sees fit. In one scene he casually parks his car in a restricted space outside his apartment and simply waves at the cop shouting at him. At times he comes across as borderline insane, which only adds to the unpredictability of the film.
Picture & Sound
The picture quality is good to middling, with a relatively low bit-rate. It should be noted, however, that Columbia TriStar have included both the 4:3 version of the film and an anamorphic widescreen print. Since the DVD is multi-layered, both versions can be selected from the menu.
The sound is average, with very little use made of the surround channels. Most activity comes from the music track, and even that is fairly subdued. Dialogue remains clear throughout, however. The soundtrack itself is worth a mention, featuring a strong mix of artists including The Verve, Blur and Fatboy Slim, highlighting some notable British talent.
Menu & Extras
Extras are excellent, with the usual collection of Deleted Scenes, Theatrical Trailers and Music Videos.
Overall
All in all, this is an intriguing, often amusing and undeniably sexy film that manages to balance dark humour with manipulation and betrayal. The performances are strong across the board, particularly from Sarah Michelle Gellar, whose deliciously venomous Kathryn steals almost every scene she appears in. Ryan Phillippe also plays the charming but morally questionable Sebastian well, making the character far more interesting than a simple villain.
While the modern high-school setting may feel far removed from the source material of Dangerous Liaisons, the themes of seduction, power and revenge translate surprisingly well. The film mixes romance, cruelty and satire in equal measure, building towards a surprisingly emotional finale. It may not be the deepest drama ever made, but it remains a stylish, entertaining and very watchable entry in the late-90s teen drama genre.
Special features
- Production Notes
- Filmmakers' Audio Commentary
- Six Deleted Scenes
- Creative Intentions: Finding a Visual Style Featurette
- Music videos by Placebo and Marcy Playground
- Making-of Featurette
- Theatrical Trailer
- Talent and Filmographies
