The film that became a cultural phenomenon
Cruel Intentions released in 1999, and wasn’t just another edition in the teen drama genre. It took a unique approach to power, high school, and seduction having its sharp, sexy, and subversive angle. Under the direction of Roger Kumble, the film was and still is a loose adaptation to a French novel, Les Liaisons dangereuses, and sets in modern day Manhattan the once archaic games of manipulation. Terriblly risky on paper, but onscreen- iconic. The film’s box office run and subsequent years have shown its impact in shifting narratives about fashion, music, memes, and even theways people approached relationships. Cruel Intentions is far from finished long after its primary release.
Too Grown-Up for Teen Cinema
The wealthy Upper East Side is where the story is set, and follows step-siblings Kathryn (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Sebastian (Ryan Phillippe), who treat people and their lives like a game for their entertainment. When Annette (Reese Witherspoon) states her desire to stay a virgin until marriage, Sebastian decides not only to accept, but to challenge himself by attempting to seduce her. What starts as a cruel game is but a prelude to heartbreak, betrayal, and tragedy.
Before this, teenage films like She’s All That and 10 Things I Hate About You were either goofy or heartwarming. In comparison, Cruel Intentions was a risk with its dark, mature, and dangerously seductive themes. It was like having a rebellious older cousin in the family of teen genres, and for this very reason, it struck a chord with the younger audience.
The Film and its Fashion All Voiced for Itself
Kathryn’s character with her sleek black dresses and pearl accessories was the genesis of ‘bad girl chic’ in the late 90s. Annette in her pastel colors and cardigans personified complete purity, while Sebastian in his luxury suits and leather interiors was every teenage boy’s fantasy of a luxury life.
In India, college girls styled her sharp blazers with woven dupattas in order to resemble her. Western publications instantly branded Sarah Michelle Gellar a style icon, and chokers and glossy lips became a trend once again. Kathryn’s mirror scene and Annette’s character still inspire TikTok creators decades later, proving fashion always remembers its cultural icons.
The Kiss That Started a Thousand Memes
The essence of Cruel Intentions is not complete without the kiss. The Kathryn and Cecile (Selma Blair) slow-motion kiss scene not only won the MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss but also became the most repeated and parodied scene of that time.
Before the era of Instagram and Twitter, that particular scene spread like wildfire thorough VHS reruns, late night talk shows and teenage magazines. It became the very definition of curiosity and rebellion. Decades later, the kiss is still being referred to in the Culture, from TikTok edits to stand up, proving its relevance in meme history.
Behind The Scences: The Chaos and the Chemistry
The Ryan and Reese romance was reflected in real life as they started dating during the filming of the movie. It was the first real kiss for Ryan which was evident from the chaos on set.
On the contrary, the Buffy the Vampire Slayer superstar, Sarah Michelle Gellar, appraised Kathryn’s villainy with glee. Despite taking a chance by not fitting into the glassy-eyed, TV heroin’s imagery, it was a risk that proved worth it as the fans adored that side of her. Selma Blair certainly was not the most popular star at the time, but became one after the associated kiss scene, even though she herself said she was embarrassed for many years after.
On the other hand, Roger Kumble, the director, was deeply concerned with the studio pressure claiming the film was “too adult” for the teenage audience. However, the director remained firm about the idea of a soundtrack full of dramatic songs (The Verve’s “Bitter Sweet Symphony” is spine chilling when paired to the closing scene) which proved to be a risk that captured the essence of the film.
Cruel Intentions has a single narrative that its fans can tell apart from other stories.
During the 1990s, a lot of teenagers had the notion that when it came to taking style cues, Cruel Intentions was a way of life. In the corridors of college, the issue of “Whether you would fall for a Sebastian?” or “Whether you could trick a Kathryn?” led to animated discussions. Students used to confess that their way of flirting, dressing, and even their entire outlook towards relationships was greatly influenced by the film.
In India, the VHS rentals of Cruel Intentions were treated like illegal tapes. People talked in whispers about its content, as if the very act of watching it was somehow illegal. For queer audiences, the kiss between Kathryn and Cecile was the rare moment of same-sex intimacy in mainstream cinema. For other viewers, Annette’s quiet determination was an image of defiance to submission.
More Than a Teen Flick
What continues to make Cruel Intentions a topic of conversation is how it managed to escape a box. It was not merely a teen flick, but a bold commentary on the prevailing issues of the time: the unchallenged dominance of capitalism, moral bankruptcy, and the banal but ruthless strategies employed to attain power. Kathryn’s machinations were a metaphor for the ruthless ambition and moral bankruptcy. Sebastian’s reckless pursuits were a metaphor for self-destructive conquests. Annette’s decisions were a testament to the triumph of noble values even in a deeply cynical world.
There were even times, especially in the 2000s, when the film was used as a case study for the “oversexualization” of teen media. While on the other side, progressives considered it to be a commentary on the hypocrisy of society.
The Continuing Impact
The scandalous drama, Cruel Intentions, has evolved over the last twenty years into something more akin to a treasure. It has spawned a short-lived television series, stage musicals, profuse memes, callbacks to fashion, and a level of notoriety and fame which gives and facilitates Cruel Intentions the bounded reputation of the neoteric musical. Whenever the title Cruel Intentions is mentioned, there is an innate understanding that it can be put on the same pedestal as Clueless and Romeo + Juliet. However, there is a stark difference with Cruel Intentions due to its more sinister and jagged nature.
For millennials, there is a natural uniformity and is the defender of the title “rite of passage film” is most definitely Cruel Intentions. On the other hand, there is Gen Z, who views the film as a rediscovered cult classic. In comparison to the other films in the same genre, there is something that sets it apart and that is its unabashedly audacious nature.
Cruel Intentions was, without a doubt, an experience. However, it has transcended the title of a mere film. It was, and remains, a culture phenomenon. A cultural phenomenon that is defiant and unrelenting, refusing to fade away into obscurity.
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