Cruel Intentions 2
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| Cruel Intentions 2 | |
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| Directed by | Roger Kumble |
| Produced by | Christopher Ball D. Howard Grigsby Linda Hawkins Peter Hume Nancy Kirhoffer Roger Kumble Paul Kurta Bruce Mellon Neal H. Moritz Charles Pratt Jr. William Tyrer Heather Zeegen |
| Written by | Roger Kumble |
| Starring | Robin Dunne Sarah Thompson Keri Lynn Pratt Amy Adams |
| Distributed by | Uca Catalogue |
| Release date(s) | March 13, 2001 |
| Running time | 87 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Preceded by | Cruel Intentions |
| Followed by | Cruel Intentions 3 |
| All Movie Guide profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
Cruel Intentions 2 is the 2000 American drama/comedy film prequel to Cruel Intentions which 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.
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 in 1999, the series was cancelled before it could premiere due to Fox TV executives' objections over obscenities.
Subsequently the film's plot, originally a retelling of the original's, was reworked to become a prequel set several years before the events seen in Cruel Intentions. In the process new scenes, including those featuring harsher language and nudity were added to the film before release.
The scenes added included identical twin sisters Alicia Sorell and Anne Sorell kissing during a nude shower sequence (a rare graphic depiction of incest in a mainstream film), and another sequence where Keri Lynn Pratt's character experiences an orgasm during a horseriding lesson (the orgasm scene was actually included in the television version and reportedly outraged Fox chairman Rupert Murdoch which was the reason for the series not being picked up).
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[edit] Plot summary
Taking place several years before the events depicted in the original 1999 film, the film follows the lives of rich step siblings Sebastian Valmont and Kathryn Merteuil as they playfully manipulate the people surrounding them at their exclusive New York prep school.
Initially the film shows Sebastian conversing with his soon-to-be ex-principal, whereby he manages to exact revenge in a similar fashion to the opening scene of the original motion picture; also borrowing heavily on the original dialogue. However, this action was motivated by different circumstances: 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 is daunted to discover the huge wealth of his new family; meeting Kathryn for the first time, while she plays piano, he proceeds to embarrass her by bettering her with his skill, and later when he corrects her vocabulary; thus leading Kathryn’s mother to belittle her daughter for her failure. 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, shunned by his step-sister. While waiting to see his new principal he encounters his future love interest, Danielle, who is, unknown to him, the principal'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 would then begin 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 manoeuvre, allowing the student to expel the gum, which ends up flying into Kathryn’s hair.
We are then shown into meeting of a secret society of student elite presided by Kathryn, deciding upon the fate of the new students. This leads them to Cherie, the unfortunate 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. In another parallel with the original film, Kathryn states that she will make Cherie the “premier slut at Manchester prep”. 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. The scenario eventually leads to the infamous scene in which Cherie, while riding a horse, masturbates to the point of climax, at the instruction of Kathryn. Cherie remarks that she now understands “why girls like horses so much”.
We then return to Sebastian, who, 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, who happened to be engaged in a card game with Sebastian and the other household staff. This, and Kathryn's jealousy of Sebastian, cause her to admit that she is unhappy with her life: one of her few expressions of true emotion.
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; though Kathryn, seeing this, uses it as a way to get back at Sebastian. First, by tempting him away from Danielle by luring him with the Sorell twins (the infamous incest shower scene), in which the sisters explain that Danielle is the only virgin at Manchester; aside from her, “Manchester prep is a virtual whorehouse;” and as the school motto goes, “if you don’t snort it, suck it”. This leaves Sebastian with a dilemma: does he remain with Danielle, in a relationship devoid of sex, or does he simply give in to the sexual possibilities of “Manchester Prep”.
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.
[edit] Cast and Characters
[edit] Main characters
- Robin Dunne - stars as Sebastian Valmont, a 16-year-old who is at once charming and deceitful, intelligent and wily, as he establishes himself in his new surroundings: his father's posh Manhattan townhouse and the upscale private school, Manchester Prep.
- Sarah Thompson - stars as Danielle Sherman, the daughter of Manchester Prep's dean, who has caught the eye of new student, Sebastian Valmont.
- Keri Lynn Pratt - stars as Manchester Prep's naive Cherie Claymon, a constant thorn in the side of Kathryn Merteuil, who makes it her goal make Cherie a laughingstock.
- Amy Adams - makes her network television début starring as the dissembling Kathryn Merteuil, Sebastian's step-sister and president of Manchester Prep's banned, nefarious secret society, the Manchester Tribunal.
[edit] Other characters
- Barry Flatman - Headmaster Sherman
- Mimi Rogers - Tiffany Merteuil
- Teresa Hill - Lilly
- Deanna Wright - Penny Cartwright
- Barclay Hope - Mr. Felder
- Tane McClure - Bunny Claymon
- David McIlwraith - Edward Valmont
- Jonathan Potts - Assistant Headmaster Steve Muller
- Caley Wilson - Blaine Tuttle
- Clement von Franckenstein - Henry (as Clement Von Franckenstein)
- Shûko Akune - Min Lin (as Shuko Akune)
