Sex Intentions on Prime Video: What’s the deal with the 1990s cult film?

Available on Prime Video, Cruel Intentions is a new sensual series for young adults that is a hit. Created by Sarah Goodman (Gossip Girl, Remember Last Summer) and Phoebe Fisher (Remember Last Summer), this 8-episode fiction immerses us in the everyday student life of fraternities and sororities at the prestigious University of Washington.

Among the students, a ruthless half-brother and half-sister will do anything to stay at the top. After a brutal abuse incident threatens the entire university system, they will do anything to maintain their power and reputation – even if it means seducing the daughter of the Vice President of the United States.

A new iteration of the near cult film

Sex Intentions is a new iteration of the cult film for an entire generation: Sex Intentions (Cruel Intentions), a provocative and sexually sensual drama directed by Roger Kumble. An outstanding cast of Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, Reese Witherspoon brings this modern take on the famous novel. dangerous liaisons By Choderlos de Laclos.

It is neither a prequel nor a sequel, but a reimagining of the story with the three main characters of the series, who are similar to the movie, with their personalities and story. Only the names have changed. Thus, Katherine Merteuil becomes Caroline Merteuil, played by Sarah Katherine Hook (Conjuring 3, First Kill, and soon to appear in The White Lotus Season 3); Sebastien Valmont becomes Lucien Belmont played by Zach Burgess (The Boy and the World) and Annette Hargrove becomes Annie Grover played by Savannah Lee Smith (Gossip Girl).

The series can boast of having an actor in the movie who is none other than Sean Patrick Thomas, who played Ronald Clifford, the music teacher of Cecil Caldwell (Selma Blair). Except that the actor has a completely different role in Cruel Intentions. by Hank Chadwick, professor of history at the University. But he will still be close to Cece Carraway (Sarah Silva), Cecil’s equal.

Another character in the film, Blaise Powell (John Harlan Kim), who has an equivalent in the series, is Blaine Tuttle (Joshua Jackson), a homosexual student who used his secret relationships with other students to gain information for Sebastian or manipulate his world.

The plot of the series is essentially the same as the movie. So Caroline and Lucien have the same toxic relationship as Catherine and Sebastian, and he challenges her to seduce Annie/Annette.

Caroline has the same cross necklace that contains cocaine, Lucien has many conquests, including a therapist. There are bonding scenes in the pool and a kiss between the two women for exercise.

The series “Cruel Intentions” does not hide its source of inspiration and even goes so far as to play arranged versions of the iconic music of the feature film, such as e.g. Every you, every me placebo or A bitter symphony From The Verve, to punctuate certain episodes.

What is the difference between a movie and a TV series?

If the series Cruel Intentions is very similar to the film, it is still distinguished by its integration into a more modern world, in particular, in accordance with the codes of the series for today’s youth, with elements of language, but also with the use of telephones. and social networks, elements that strongly influence reputation.

It also touches on current social issues, even if they are sometimes treated superficially, such as rape culture in American universities, school bullying, and sexist power relations between siblings and families.

And this is embodied by a new character, Beatrice, played by Brooke Lena Johnson, who will do anything to eliminate sororities and fraternities. “He has a very strong vision of what he wants”he explained E! online, “He’s really a fighter, so he’s going to stand up for whatever he really believes in and he’s going to do it.”.

In addition, the heroes “Don’t act entirely as you think”he warned “These incredible actors who are on the show have done a tremendous job of taking it in a new direction.”. Therefore, it is up to the public to pay attention to it while watching the series.

In the end, the outcome of the series is very different from the cult film, which ends tragically with the death of Sebastian. In the series, Lucien is still alive, but he took his revenge on Caroline in a completely different way. Which leaves the door open for a second season.

The series “Cruel Intentions” is available on Prime Video.