Cruel Intentions is a 1999 film based around the French novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses written in the 18th century by Laclos. This film was completely different to others because it was based around the teenage group in a wealthy area of France. Essentially, it followed the life of step-siblings Kathryn and Sebastian as they attempt to create social perfection. The story is characterized, we find out later, in Sebastian’s journal, where he exposes the manipulative aspects of his step sister, who had otherwise been viewed as a model student. The film received mixed reviews, being billed as distinctly average by some and loved by others. To the credit of the director, the plot does remain very close to the original in the book, which very rarely happens.

Selma Blair plays the role of Cecile in the film; a young, naive student who is taken under the wing of Kathryn who says that she will turn her into a model student. The reality is that she wants to punish Cecile for stealing her boyfriend and tries to convince her to sleep with as many people as she can. She is blackmailed by Sebastian who performed a sexual act on her and is told to keep learning from him by Kathryn so that she can please her boyfriend in bed. This is, of course, part of her scheme. Blair plays the role of the manipulated and naive Cecile very well, and we find ourselves feeling sympathy for someone who is merely a pawn in a larger game.