Cruel Intentions

Cruel Intentions

Year: 2016

Runtime: 45 mins

Language: English

Director: Roger Kumble

DramaThriller

Following the death of her brother, Kathryn Merteuil plots to manipulate her nephew, Bash, and seize control of the family's global business, Valmont International. This film serves as a pilot episode for an intended NBC television series that ultimately was not picked up. It continues the story of the 1999 film and explores themes of ambition, power, and family legacy.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Cruel Intentions (2016)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Cruel Intentions (2016). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

New York City

The film unfolds in Manhattan's posh social circles, where wealth and appearance shape every interaction. Glamorous parties, exclusive schools, and private clubs create a playground for manipulation. The bustling city provides both opportunities and danger for the young socialites who are its stars.

🌆 Urban landscape 💎 High society 🗽 NYC

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 06:11

Main Characters – Cruel Intentions (2016)

Meet the key characters of Cruel Intentions (2016), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Kathryn Merteuil (Sarah Michelle Gellar)

A brilliant, calculating socialite whose appetite for power and amusement drives much of the plot. She orchestrates schemes, manipulates Sebastian, and uses information as leverage to control those around her. Her charm masks a ruthless willingness to destroy reputations for her own entertainment.

💎 Socialite 🎭 Manipulator 🧠 Strategist

Sebastian Valmont

A charming, reckless heir who thrives on manipulating others for sport. He begins to develop genuine feelings for Annette, blurring lines between obligation to a bet and personal desire. His arc explores whether a callous persona can soften in the face of true love, and ends in self-sacrifice.

🎭 Charmer 🧠 Strategist 💔 Lover

Annette Hargrove

A principled, sheltered young woman who initially refuses to yield to Sebastian's advances. She becomes torn between passion and propriety, and her honesty challenges the deceptive games around her. Her relationship with Sebastian reveals vulnerability beneath a poised exterior.

💎 Virtuous 🎀 Idealist ❤️ Romantic

Cecile Caldwell

A vulnerable girl manipulated by both Sebastian and Kathryn. Her mother's warnings and the pressure from the scheming pair push her toward risky choices, exposing the dangers of manipulation.

🌸 Naive 💬 Vulnerable

Ronald Clifford

A music teacher whose affair with a lie is manufactured by Kathryn and Sebastian to destabilize Cecile. His actions are driven by manipulation and curiosity, culminating in a charged confrontation.

🎼 Music Teacher 🧠 Manipulated

Greg

Annette's close friend who becomes a pawn in Sebastian's push for social control, pressured into persuading Annette of his supposed 'good nature'.

🤝 Friend 🕴️ Blackmailed

Court Reynolds

Ex-boyfriend who becomes a target in Kathryn's retaliatory schemes, testing loyalties and exposing the volatile social dynamics at play.

💔 Ex-lover 🕵️‍♀️ Exposed

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 06:11

Major Themes – Cruel Intentions (2016)

Explore the central themes of Cruel Intentions (2016), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🎭 Manipulation

Kathryn Merteuil and Sebastian Valmont orchestrate a ruthless game of seduction, using charm and deceit to control others. The bet becomes a weapon that exposes how reputation and sexual politics can be weaponized in a privileged social circle. The film examines how manipulation can have real consequences, blurring lines between affection and exploitation. As the players push boundaries, trust collapses and truth becomes a casualty.

💔 Love

Sebastian's growing genuine feelings for Annette clash with the bet's deceit. Annette's honesty provides a counterpoint to the false personas of the others. The romance exposes vulnerability and the cost of manipulation on human relationships.

⚖️ Consequences

The film culminates in tragedy: Sebastian sacrifices himself to save Annette, and Cecile's journal exposes Kathryn's deceit, shattering her carefully crafted image. The story asks whether true love can survive calculated manipulation and whether truth can outlast power games. The consequences ripple through the social circle, redefining reputations.

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 06:11

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Cruel Intentions Summary

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Cruel Intentions Summary

Cruel Intentions Timeline

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Cruel Intentions Timeline

Cruel Intentions Spoiler-Free Summary

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Cruel Intentions Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Cruel Intentions

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