Cruel Intentions 2 is the 2000 American drama/comedy film prequel to Cruel Intentions and was released direct-to-video. It was written and directed by Roger Kumble, who was also responsible for the first film. The film stars Robin Dunne, Sarah Thompson, Amy Adams, and Keri Lynn Pratt.
Development
Cruel Intentions 2 was originally supposed to be a TV pilot for a Cruel Intentions spin-off series called Manchester Prep. Originally set to air on Fox Television Thursday nights 1999, the series was cancelled before it could premiere due to Fox TV executives' objections over obscenities. The three episodes that were shot were edited together to make the movie.
Subsequently, the film's plot, initially a retelling of the original movie, was reworked to become a prequel set a year or two before the events seen in Cruel Intentions. In the process some character names were changed, and new scenes featuring harsher language and nudity were added to the film before release—the most notorious being identical twin sisters Alicia and Annie Sorell kissing incestously during a nude shower sequence.
Although the movie uses the same characters and school as the first movie many things are incorrect in this prequel. One of them is that Kathryn and Sebastian are Sophomores, but it takes place the school year before the first movie. In that case they are supposed to be High School Juniors, because in the first movie they are about to enter their senior year.
Plot summary
The film opens with Sebastian conversing with his soon-to-be ex-principal and the principal's insistence on having Sebastian's permanent record relayed to his new school, thereby hampering his chance for a new start at Manchester prep.
Following his arrival in New York, Sebastian discovers the wealth of his new family; meeting Kathryn for the first time and bettering her with piano and vocabulary. This leads to a confrontation between Kathryn and Sebastian whereby she states that she has a comfortable lifestyle and that he "better not interfere".
Sebastian later begins school. While waiting to see his new headmaster, he encounters Danielle, who is, unknown to him, Headmaster Sherman's daughter. A school assembly follows, showing Kathryn delivering a speech to her fellow classmates, but being persistently interrupted by uncontrollable hiccups coming from a student, who then begins to choke on the gum that she was chewing in a bid to stop her hiccups. She is saved by the quick action of Danielle who performs the Heimlich maneuver, allowing the student to expel the gum, which ends up flying into Kathryn's hair.
A meeting of a secret society of student elites presided by Kathryn takes place, deciding upon the fate of the new students. This leads them to Cherie, the student with the hiccups. It is then discovered that Cherie's family is wealthier than that of Kathryn; this, and the events of the assembly, cause Kathryn to seek a vendetta against Cherie. This backfires, as Kathryn's mother tells her to become best friends with Cherie, in an attempt to encourage Cherie's mother to donate a large amount of money to Kathryn's mother's charity.
Sebastian, coming from a more humble upbringing, wishes to befriend his house staff. Doing so angers Kathryn, whose day is interrupted by not being able to contact her driver. This, and Kathryn's jealousy of Sebastian, cause her to admit that she is unhappy with her life.
Sebastian attempts to woo Danielle: first, by asking her for coffee at her work; then, later, conversing with her over the telephone. Eventually, this evolves into a relationship, but Kathryn, seeing this, uses it as a way to get back at Sebastian. First, by tempting him away from Danielle by luring him with identical twins, who confide to Sebastian that Danielle is the only virgin at Manchester.
In the end, Sebastian stays with Danielle; professing his love for her, only to find that she does not reciprocate, but is in fact working alongside Kathryn in a secret plan to dupe Sebastian. Defeated by Kathryn's manipulation, Sebastian states "if you can't beat them, join them," thus leading to a threesome with Danielle and Kathryn followed by an alliance of the three to dominate and manipulate others.
Cast and characters
Main characters
- Sebastian Valmont
- A 16-year-old who is at once charming and deceitful, intelligent and witty, as he establishes himself in his new surroundings: his father's posh Manhattan townhouse and the upscale private school, Manchester Prep.
- Danielle Sherman
- The daughter of Manchester Prep's dean, who has caught the eye of new student, Sebastian Valmont. This character was originally named Annette Hargrove before the production switch to a prequel.
- Cherie Claymon
- Manchester Prep's naïve new student, a constant thorn in the side of Kathryn Merteuil, who makes it her goal to make Cherie a laughingstock. This character was originally named Cecile Caldwell before the production switch to a prequel.
- Kathryn Merteuil
- Sebastian's dissembling step-sister and president of Manchester Prep's banned, nefarious secret society, the Manchester Tribunal.
Cast
The roles with two names are the ones altered when production switched from a remake TV series to a DVD prequel.
Soundtrack
In the film credits, Edward Shearmur's music from Cruel Intentions and Stephen Endelman's music from Jawbreaker are listed as being used in the film.
Other songs used in Cruel Intentions 2 include:
- Thin Lizard Dawn - "Weed"
- Thin Lizard Dawn - "Under the Wing"
- Jessica Sheeley - "In Good Time"
- The Julie Band - "Bad Day"
- Cupcake - "Blood Thirsty"
- Treble Charger - "Left Feeling Odd"
- Gearwhore - "Passion"
- Jessica Sheely - "No Regrets"
- Bernie Barlow - "I Wanna Know Where Nowhere Is"
- Thin Lizard Dawn - "Turn Yourself In"
- Michael Greenspan - "I Want You"
- Lorna Vallings - "Taste"
- Shelly O'Neil - "Best Friend"
- Shelly Peiken - "Good to Me"
- Shelly O'Neil - "Make It Happen"
- The Julie Band - "Julie Goes Home Now"
- Jessica Sheely - "Feel Something"
- The Smithereens - "All Revved Up"
- The Smithereens - "The Last Good Time"
See also
External links
