Cruel Intentions 2
Encyclopedia
Cruel Intentions 2 is the 2000 American comedy-drama
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
. Both films are based on Les Liaisons dangereuses
by Choderlos de Laclos.
) 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 Merteuil (Amy Adams
) 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 Sherman (Sarah Thompson), 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.
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.
Kathryn's attempt to sabotage Cherie 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 the school. 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. In the last scene, Cherie is seen riding her bike, which is run over by Sebastian's car. Sebastian offers to give her a ride, and has sex with her. Kathryn and Danielle are seen, in the front of the car, pleased with the results.
. New explicit scenes and dialogue (including the ending) which was filmed nearly a year after original filming ended and were added to the old footage from the pilot and the first two episodes to make this film. The plot was reworked to serve as a prequel to Cruel Intentions rather than a re-telling. Several of the subplots involving more of the activities of the Manchester Prep Tribrunial as well as some scenes with certain characters were deleted. In order to change the storyline from its original structure, several characters got their names changed with the help of film dubbing techniques. For instance, Danielle Sherman was originally named "Annette Hargrove", and Cherie Claymon was originally named "Cecile Caldwell".
are listed as being used in the film.
Other songs used in Cruel Intentions 2 include:
Comedy-drama
Comedy-drama is a genre of theatre, film and television programs which combines humorous and serious content.-Theatre:Traditional western theatre, beginning with the ancient Greeks, was divided into comedy and tragedy...
prequel
Prequel
A prequel is a work that supplements a previously completed one, and has an earlier time setting.The widely recognized term was a 20th-century neologism, and a portmanteau from pre- and sequel...
to Cruel Intentions
Cruel Intentions
Cruel Intentions is a 1999 American drama film starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, Reese Witherspoon, and Selma Blair. The film is an adaptation of the 18th-century French epistolary novel Les Liaisons dangereuses by Laclos and is set among wealthy teenagers living in modern New York...
and was released direct-to-video
Direct-to-video
Direct-to-video is a term used to describe a film that has been released to the public on home video formats without being released in film theaters or broadcast on television...
. It was written and directed by Roger Kumble
Roger Kumble
Roger Kumble is an American film director, screenwriter, and playwright.-Life and career:Kumble was raised in Harrison, New York and graduated from Harrison High School. He graduated from Northwestern University in 1988, where he wrote for the "Waa Mu" show...
, who was also responsible for the first film. The film stars Robin Dunne
Robin Dunne
Robin Dunne is a Canadian actor who is mainly known for having had numerous leading roles in sequels throughout his career, and lately for his role as Doctor Will Zimmerman in the cult Science fiction Television series, Sanctuary....
, Sarah Thompson, Amy Adams
Amy Adams
Amy Lou Adams is an American actress and singer. Adams began her performing career on stage in dinner theaters before making her screen debut in the 1999 black comedy film Drop Dead Gorgeous...
, and Keri Lynn Pratt
Keri Lynn Pratt
Keri Lynn Pratt is an American actress of film and television. She is well known for her role of Missy Belknap on Jack & Bobby or as Dee Vine in the film Drive Me Crazy, which was her debut role....
. Both films are based on Les Liaisons dangereuses
Les Liaisons dangereuses
Les Liaisons dangereuses is a French epistolary novel by Choderlos de Laclos, first published in four volumes by Durand Neveu from March 23, 1782....
by Choderlos de Laclos.
Plot
The film opens with Sebastian Valmont (Robin DunneRobin Dunne
Robin Dunne is a Canadian actor who is mainly known for having had numerous leading roles in sequels throughout his career, and lately for his role as Doctor Will Zimmerman in the cult Science fiction Television series, Sanctuary....
) 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 Merteuil (Amy Adams
Amy Adams
Amy Lou Adams is an American actress and singer. Adams began her performing career on stage in dinner theaters before making her screen debut in the 1999 black comedy film Drop Dead Gorgeous...
) 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 Sherman (Sarah Thompson), 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
Secret society
A secret society is a club or organization whose activities and inner functioning are concealed from non-members. The society may or may not attempt to conceal its existence. The term usually excludes covert groups, such as intelligence agencies or guerrilla insurgencies, which hide their...
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.
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.
Kathryn's attempt to sabotage Cherie 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 the school. 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. In the last scene, Cherie is seen riding her bike, which is run over by Sebastian's car. Sebastian offers to give her a ride, and has sex with her. Kathryn and Danielle are seen, in the front of the car, pleased with the results.
Cast
- Amy AdamsAmy AdamsAmy Lou Adams is an American actress and singer. Adams began her performing career on stage in dinner theaters before making her screen debut in the 1999 black comedy film Drop Dead Gorgeous...
as Kathryn Merteuil - Robin DunneRobin DunneRobin Dunne is a Canadian actor who is mainly known for having had numerous leading roles in sequels throughout his career, and lately for his role as Doctor Will Zimmerman in the cult Science fiction Television series, Sanctuary....
as Sebastian Valmont - Sarah Thompson as Danielle Sherman
- Keri Lynn PrattKeri Lynn PrattKeri Lynn Pratt is an American actress of film and television. She is well known for her role of Missy Belknap on Jack & Bobby or as Dee Vine in the film Drive Me Crazy, which was her debut role....
as Cherie Claymon - Barry FlatmanBarry FlatmanBarry Flatman is a Canadian actor. He has appeared in many film and television roles such as Rideau Hall in which he plays a fictional Prime Minister of Canada. His other works include My Name is Tanino, The Company, Saw 3, Just Friends, H2O, and most recently in the 2008 A&E's miniseries The...
as Headmaster Sherman - Mimi RogersMimi RogersMimi Rogers is an American movie actress and competitive poker player.-Early life:Rogers was born Miriam Spickler in Coral Gables, Florida, the daughter of Philip C...
as Tiffany Merteuil - Teresa Hill as Lilly
- Barclay HopeBarclay Hope-Life and career:Hope was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He is the brother of actor William Hope. Hope appeared in the TV series Psi Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal as Peter Axon...
as Mr. Felder - Tane McClureTane McClureTané McClure is an American singer, actress and film producer.McClure was born in Los Angeles County, California and raised in Hawaii. She is the daughter of actor Doug McClure. She sang in a Latin jazz band, Sweet Honesty, in the mid-1970s, and moved to San Francisco towards the end of the decade...
as Bunny Claymon - David McIlwraithDavid McIlwraithDavid McIlwraith is an actor who has appeared in numerous television series and in several movies since the 1970s. He co-starred in the 1993 television series White Fang. In 2005 he appeared in the television movie Living With the Enemy. In 2006 he appeared in the feature film Hollow Man II.-...
as Edward Valmont - Jonathan PottsJonathan PottsJonathan Potts is a Canadian actor whose career began in the late 1980s. His earliest work was as the voice of Troy Jeffries in the animated television series Beverly Hills Teens. He is best known for providing the voice of Link from The Legend of Zelda animated series...
as Assistant Headmaster Steve Muller - Caley Wilson as Blaine Tuttle
- Deanna WrightDeanna WrightDeanna Wright is an American actress and former fashion model.-Early life:Deanna Wright was born January 11, 1980 to Robert and Sharon Duncan. She lived in Ocala, Florida until she turned 17, when she moved to Miami....
as Penny Cartwright - Clement von Franckenstein as Henry
- Shûko Akune as Min Lin
- Andrew Kraulis as Court Reynolds
Background story
Cruel Intentions 2 was originally a TV series titled Manchester Prep which was based on Cruel Intentions, with three hour-long episodes filmed. The episodes were as follows: the pilot (#1.1), Pretty in Plaid (#1.2), and Disfunction Junction (#1.3). They were scheduled to premiere on the Fox network in September 1999, but the show was canceled before any of the episodes aired. The scene where Cherie orgasms while on a horse in Episode #1.3 reportedly outraged Fox chairman Rupert MurdochRupert Murdoch
Keith Rupert Murdoch, AC, KSG is an Australian-American business magnate. He is the founder and Chairman and CEO of , the world's second-largest media conglomerate....
. New explicit scenes and dialogue (including the ending) which was filmed nearly a year after original filming ended and were added to the old footage from the pilot and the first two episodes to make this film. The plot was reworked to serve as a prequel to Cruel Intentions rather than a re-telling. Several of the subplots involving more of the activities of the Manchester Prep Tribrunial as well as some scenes with certain characters were deleted. In order to change the storyline from its original structure, several characters got their names changed with the help of film dubbing techniques. For instance, Danielle Sherman was originally named "Annette Hargrove", and Cherie Claymon was originally named "Cecile Caldwell".
Soundtrack
In the film credits, Edward Shearmur's music from Cruel Intentions and Stephen Endelman's music from JawbreakerJawbreaker (film)
Jawbreaker is an American black comedy satire film, directed by Darren Stein. It was released February 19, 1999. The film stars Rose McGowan, Rebecca Gayheart, Julie Benz, and Judy Greer as girls in an exclusive clique in their high school. Charlotte Ayanna has a non-speaking cameo role as a...
are listed as being used in the film.
Other songs used in Cruel Intentions 2 include:
- Thin Lizard DawnThin Lizard DawnThin Lizard Dawn were a 1990s American rock group from New York who released two major label albums on RCA Records in the late 1990s. They are probably most widely known for their first CD release, Thin Lizard Dawn which was released in 1996. The CD featured the single Sexual Dynamo, in addition...
- Weed - Thin Lizard Dawn - "Under the Wing"
- Jessica Theely - "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"