Comparison may be the thief of joy, but when adapting a story from one format to another, it is inevitable. So, we’re going to do a little compare and contrast between the “Cruel Intentions” film and the new Prime Video show.

“Cruel Intentions”, was a 1999 American teen romantic drama, that captivated audiences with its modern retelling of Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’ 1782 novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses. Set against the backdrop of wealthy high schoolers in New York City, the film stars Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, Reese Witherspoon, and Selma Blair.

The Prime Video adaptation offers a 2024 reimagining of Cruel Intentions, where ambition and betrayal reign. Step-siblings Caroline and Lucien cunningly manipulate their way through the ruthless social scene of Manchester College, an elite university near Washington, D.C. The series stars Sarah Catherine Hook as Caroline Merteuil, Zac Burgess as Lucien Belmont, Savannah Lee Smith as Annie Grover, Sara Silva as Cece Carroway, John Harlan Kim as Blaise Powell, Khobe Clarke as Scott Russell, Sean Patrick Thomas as Professor Hank Chadwick, and Brooke Lena Johnson as Beatrice Worth.

Similarities between the ‘Cruel Intentions’ film and television series

Lucien and Annie visit a retirement home, echoing a scene from the original film. Many story points and character development moments are taken directly from the source material, which helps the show maintain the feel of the original.

Sean Patrick Thomas, who played Ronald in the original movie, plays a professor in the new show.

The core of the story remains intact. Instead of a bet between the step-siblings, it’s a favor and prize exchange. An innocent girl still gets caught in the middle, and the unusual step-sibling relationship continues, along with their manipulative games. The arrangement still involves an exchange of sex and Lucien’s car.

Caroline’s cross still contains cocaine, reflecting her self-medication while maintaining a perfect image.

The Most Notable Diffrences

First, almost all the names changed. Katheryn became Caroline, Sebastian became Lucien, and Cecile became CeCe.

The timing also shifted. The film takes place the summer before their senior year of high school, while the new series takes place in college.

Instead of Sebastian keeping a journal of his conquests, Lucien makes sex tapes. However, the extent of their promiscuity seems similar.

CeCe starts a relationship with her professor. In the original movie, Cecile slept with her music teacher, Ronald (who is played by the same actor).

The ending is different, likely because the creators wanted to keep their options open for a second season. Having a dead main character would make that difficult.

TV Reboot Stays True to the Original While Adding Depth

Overall, the new show does an incredible job of keeping the original Cruel Intentions story intact, simply delivering it in a different format. This allows for more character exploration and the potential to usher new fans into the fold.

The TV format’s benefit is that the characters and storylines have more time to breathe and develop. For example, Lucien’s infatuation with Caroline fades gradually as he pursues Annie, unlike the film where Sebastian abruptly rejects Kathryn. While both tell a similar story, their delivery methods differ significantly. Both are entertaining, but the pacing enhances the TV show’s enjoyment. Hopefully, Cruel Intentions will get a second season, as it establishes enough of its own storylines beyond the film.

All episodes are currently available to stream on Prime Video.

If you’re interested in reviews for more Prime Video Series check out: I’m a Virgo Season 1 Spoiler-Free Review or “The Lord of The Rings: Rings of Power” – Spoiler-Free Review

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