In the opulent backdrop of pre-Revolution Paris, the Marquise de Merteuil (Michelle Pfeiffer) weaves a complex tapestry of revenge against her former lover, Comte de Bastide. Having been callously cast aside, she is determined to restore her pride by orchestrating the downfall of his young and naive fiancée, Cécile de Volanges. Fresh to the society scene and unseasoned in matters of love, Cécile becomes Merteuil's target as she devises a ruthless plan to seduce and humiliate her.
To execute her scheme, Merteuil enlists the help of the charming yet cunning Vicomte de Valmont (John Malkovich), another former lover who’s equally adept at manipulation. He is initially distracted by his desire to ensnare the virtuous Madame de Tourvel, the pious wife of a Parliament member, staying at his aunt, Madame de Rosemonde. Merteuil's demand that Valmont ruin Cécile is a bold challenge, and she tantalizes him with the promise of her own affections should he succeed in seducing Tourvel first.
Valmont, intrigued yet shrewd, accepts the challenge but soon finds himself entangled in a convoluted web of deception, especially as he resorts to manipulating Cécile's life further. He employs his page, Azolan, in a plot to seduce Cécile’s maid, Julie, allowing him to gain control over Tourvel's private correspondence. Among these letters, he discovers warnings about his character from Cécile's mother, Madame de Volanges. Enraged by this unwarranted insult, Valmont switches gears, vowing to seduce Cécile himself.
During this tumultuous time, Cécile finds solace in the charming presence of Chevalier Raphael Danceny (Glenn Close), who becomes her music instructor and potential romantic interest. Merteuil, perceiving him as a pawn in her game, makes plans to exploit Danceny's nobility and innocence to further her schemes against Cécile.
As the tension escalates, Valmont gains illicit access to Cécile's chamber, where his advances quickly become domineering. He manipulates her into submission through threats and blackmail, leaving her a mere object of his ambition. With Cécile now secluded and feigning illness, her mother turns to Merteuil for guidance, who deceitfully suggests that Cécile should embrace Valmont’s advances for her own growth in a society laden with prejudice against women.
This results in a nightmarish "educational" relationship where Cécile is courted by Danceny by day, only to be victimized by Valmont under the cover of night. As Merteuil’s machinations unfold, she becomes involved with Danceny, intertwining the lives of all three in increasingly perilous ways.
Tragedy strikes when Cécile faces a life-altering encounter with Valmont, leading to devastating consequences, including the loss of a pregnancy. Meanwhile, Valmont finds his heart unexpectedly ensnared by Tourvel, creating a dramatic shift that threatens his previously carefree existence as he vacillates between his obligations to Merteuil and his growing affection for her. In a cruel twist of fate, Merteuil punishes Valmont for his divided loyalties, leading to a heart-wrenching parting with Tourvel, who, feeling deeply rejected, retreats to a convent.
As the story hurtles towards its climax, conflicts come to a head when the truth about Valmont and Cécile’s affair is weaponized by Merteuil, inciting Danceny to challenge Valmont to a duel. This confrontation results in Valmont’s demise, but not before he bequeaths the weight of his emotions to Danceny, alongside revealing the depth of Merteuil’s cunning through intimate letters.
Tourvel, shattered by Valmont's death, plunges into despair upon learning her true feelings through Danceny. Meanwhile, Merteuil's schemes come crashing down as she faces public disgrace at a performance, leaving her to grapple alone with the wreckage of her life — a stark contrast to her previous splendor, as her makeup is stripped away, revealing the true face of her desolation.
