Review: Prime Video’s Cruel Intentions Misses the Mark on Manipulation and Menace

The original Cruel Intentions, a 1999 cult classic inspired by the 1782 novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses, captured audiences with its twisted relationships, razor-sharp manipulation, and unapologetic depravity. It was a film that thrived on its daring spirit. Fast forward to 2024, Prime Video’s Cruel Intentions series, helmed by Phoebe Fisher and Sara Goodman, attempts to reimagine this intoxicating tale for a new generation. While it incorporates fresh elements and modern settings, it ultimately lacks the sharp edge that made the original so memorable.

Diluted Drama: Familiar Players, Diminished Stakes

The core premise remains similar: power struggles, manipulation, and a touch of forbidden romance among privileged elites. The series transports the drama to a university campus, steeped in Greek life dynamics. Caroline Merteuil (Sarah Catherine Hook), the scheming president of Delta Phi Pi, plots alongside her stepbrother Lucien Belmont (Zac Burgess) to control the social landscape. Their ultimate goal? Luring Annie Grover (Savannah Lee Smith), the daughter of the U.S. Vice President, into their web of deceit.

While the characters’ ambitions are in line with the original, the execution feels sanitized. The savage cruelty and palpable tension are stripped away, leaving a version that is often timid in comparison. Prime Video’s Cruel Intentions introduces tweaks to character backstories and relationships, but these changes rarely translate into the dramatic weight or intrigue they seem to promise.

Campus Drama Lacks Venom

The university setting adds a modern flair, but it doesn’t inject the venom the series desperately needs. Caroline’s schemes center around saving Delta Phi Pi’s reputation after a hazing scandal threatens its future. Annie, seen as a key to restoring their image, becomes a pawn in Caroline’s elaborate game. Yet, even as these chess pieces move, the manipulations lack menace.

For instance, Lucien’s sexual exploits result in leaked tapes, but the fallout barely registers in the grand scheme. Similarly, Caroline’s power plays often feel more like mild maneuvers than the high-stakes gambits that should define the show. The narrative flirts with danger but rarely dives into it, leaving viewers yearning for the unapologetic darkness of the original.

A Web of Subplots That Struggles to Stick

One of the series’ strengths lies in its interconnected storylines. Caroline’s obsession with preserving Delta Phi Pi’s status ripples out to influence everyone around her. Cece Carroway (Sara Silva), Caroline’s fast-talking lieutenant, juggles her own ambitions and secrets, while campus activist Beatrice Worth (Brooke Lena Johnson) works tirelessly to bring Caroline down. These side characters occasionally outshine the main players, offering glimpses of the cunning and chaos that the show aspires to but seldom delivers.

Unfortunately, these subplots often feel stretched too thin. The pacing falters, particularly in the early episodes, where it struggles to find momentum. By the time the series gains traction around episode three, it’s difficult to feel fully invested. The potential is there, but it’s undermined by a reluctance to push boundaries.

The Series Plays It Too Safe

If Cruel Intentions has one glaring flaw, it’s its unwillingness to fully embrace the depravity and audacity that its title promises. The original film reveled in the twisted dynamics of its characters, making their every action a deliciously wicked spectacle. The series, by contrast, often feels like it’s holding back.

The relationship between Caroline and Lucien, central to the story’s tension, lacks the venom and allure that could make it compelling. Even when the series teases with moments of high drama—sex, betrayal, and manipulation—it rarely follows through. This hesitation leaves the show feeling more like a soap opera than the sinister drama it aims to be.

Casting and Character Dynamics Fall Short

While the ensemble cast is serviceable, the leads struggle to embody the arrogance and danger necessary to bring their characters to life. Caroline and Lucien, in particular, fail to exude the magnetism and menace that defined their film counterparts. Without that magnetic pull, their schemes and relationships lack the emotional impact needed to hook viewers.

The supporting cast, however, offers some bright spots. Cece Carroway’s blend of neurotic energy and sharp wit makes her one of the more engaging characters, and Beatrice’s moral crusade adds a layer of tension, even if it doesn’t fully pay off. Still, these performances can’t compensate for the lackluster portrayal of the central duo.

Final Verdict: A Missed Opportunity

Prime Video’s Cruel Intentions has all the ingredients to craft a deliciously twisted drama—scheming characters, tangled relationships, and a high-stakes setting. Yet, it fails to mix them into something truly memorable. By softening the edges and playing it safe, the series loses the boldness that made its predecessor a classic.

If a second season materializes, it must lean into the chaos and embrace the dark heart of its story. Only by rediscovering its willingness to shock and seduce can Cruel Intentions live up to its name. For now, it’s a well-dressed imitation that can’t match the original’s bite.

Source: Screen Rant