No one was asking for the Cruel Intentions series on Prime Video (And here’s why)

No one was asking for the Cruel Intentions series on Prime Video (And here's why)

As a connoisseur of classic films and a devotee of the ’90s cinematic landscape, I must say, rebooting “Cruel Intentions” feels like a misguided attempt to milk a cow that’s already given its best milk.

Cruel Intentions is getting a new take on Prime Video, but has anyone really been asking for this?

In the past ten years, there has been a popular trend in television to remake old movies for modern audiences. Some of these adaptations have been successful like Amazon’s reimagining of Mr. & Mrs. Smith. However, others have fallen short, such as Paramount TV’s disappointing version of Heathers. Now, we can include Cruel Intentions in that group.

1999 saw the release of a film that offered a contemporary spin on the timeless novel “Dangerous Liaisons”. In this adaptation, titled “Cruel Intentions”, the character of Sebastian (portrayed by Ryan Phillipe) takes pleasure in ensnaring women and seeks to test his skills. His step-sister Kathryn (played by Sarah Michelle Gellar) proposes an intriguing bet: seducing their chaste classmate Annette (Reese Witherspoon). This film delves into a complex romance filled with power struggles and dark manipulations.

25 years after its initial release, the film continued to captivate audiences as a timeless cult favorite at the box office. Fox endeavored to adapt it into a TV series featuring a young Amy Adams, yet this version ended up becoming a direct-to-video sequel instead. Fast forward to 2015, NBC produced a pilot episode where Sarah Michelle Gellar reprised her role as Kathryn, but the network ultimately decided not to air it as a full series.

Currently, Amazon Prime Video is breathing fresh life into the original concept by setting the storyline in Washington D.C. and infusing it with additional layers of drama. Although it maintains the core themes, this revamp gives the impression of a distinctly different show altogether.

Cruel Intentions follows the elite students of Manchester College, a Washington, D.C.-adjacent university, where reputation means everything, fraternities and sororities are the gold standard, and two ruthless stepsiblings, Caroline Merteuil (Sarah Catherine Hook) and Lucien Belmont (Zac Burgess), will do anything to stay on top of the cutthroat social hierarchy. After a brutal hazing incident threatens the entire Greek Life system, they’ll do whatever is necessary to preserve their power and reputation – even if that means seducing Annie Grover (Savannah Lee Smith), the daughter of the Vice President of the United States. Hearts will be broken, loyalties will be tested, and secrets will be revealed in this modern-day royal court that is Manchester College.

So we’re getting a new take on this property, but is it what anyone wants?

We don’t need a Cruel Intentions reboot

Initially, the problem lies in the fact that the 1999 movie stands well on its own and doesn’t necessitate a television series remake. Instead, the concept of a 2015 sequel could have been intriguing, allowing Kathryn to continue her manipulations further. Rebooting it into a TV show seems questionable since many TV shows struggle to surpass the original quality of a film.

The trailer tries to replicate the feel of the movie down to the music, but it doesn’t quite feel the same. It’s not just the update to modern times; the plotline itself seems to be meandering. The original story worked because of how tight it was. Sebastian and Kathryn were playing the twisted game on Annette, both cunning, only for their mutual jealousy to lead to tragedy. It was a great story that worked for a 90-minute movie.

Translating that to an eight-episode series doesn’t seem like a wise choice. Additionally, the “hazing incident” suggests that it won’t just focus on their bet but on trying to establish power within the college. The duo were not interested in wielding such great control; they merely wanted to enjoy themselves. This attempt at preserving the hierarchy system seems more fitting for HBO’s Gossip Girl reboot. The fact that the original show didn’t last long might indicate that viewers won’t be drawn to this concept.

1999 saw “Cruel Intentions” offer a novel, dark portrayal of elite high school life, which was quite refreshing at the time. However, nowadays, you could easily find numerous shows with similar themes on any streaming platform. Essentially, it’s a situation where the original movie has spawned so many imitators that attempting to remake it only adds more to the pile. The trailer itself bears such a striking resemblance to other shows across various streaming services that standing out uniquely becomes quite challenging.

It isn’t uncommon for television adaptations to borrow a movie’s title and storyline, but then take their own creative direction. While this can work, the show “Intentions” doesn’t seem to require commentary on today’s youth or social media. Instead, it appears as if they are stretching a story that could easily be resolved in a shorter time span into eight episodes.

This time around, it seems unnecessary because the initial film effectively conveyed its narrative with an outstanding cast. The trailer appears more like a compilation of key moments from the movie, even mirroring the same music, which makes it feel like a weak imitation. Nostalgia may provide a temporary boost, but it won’t compensate for a flawed plot or acting performance.

As a gamer, I reckon this series might attract some viewers, but it’s starting to feel like Amazon Prime Video is banking on reviving an old title without always considering if the fresh take hits the mark. The new version of “Cruel Intentions” could be quite engaging, yet I can’t shake off the feeling that it’s unnecessary and the original film still reigns supreme in my book.

Cruel Intentions premieres November 17 on Prime Video.

2024-10-25 18:28