Lengthy Island iced tea, please! 20 years after its premiere in 1999, Merciless Intentions nonetheless has followers speaking about its scandalous story line — and dreamy lead Sebastian Valmont.
Within the 90s cult basic, which is a teen model of the French movie Harmful Liaisons, Sebastian’s (Ryan Phillippe) sultry stepsister Kathryn Merteuil (Sarah Michelle Gellar) challenges him to “deflower” the brand new faculty headmaster’s daughter Annette Hargrove (Reese Witherspoon).
What Sebastian doesn’t count on is to fall in love with Annette and discover himself damaged after she learns the reality concerning the wager. Ultimately, Annette comes out on high besting Kathryn at her personal recreation earlier than driving off into the sundown. Sadly, Sebastian isn’t by her facet — he sacrifices himself to avoid wasting Annette — however she feels his presence whereas driving his beloved convertible as The Verve’s “Bittersweet Symphony” performs within the background.
“It makes me smile nearly each time. Irrespective of the place I’m,” Phillippe completely instructed Us Weekly in September 2021 of the long-lasting ultimate scene playlist. “And there’s been a few instances in my life the place I’ve been, like, at a gasoline station or no matter. And I’ll out of the blue hear the music from throughout the way in which. After which there’ll be a gaggle of individuals waving to me. Like, they put the music on a function as a result of they noticed me there.”
The Large Sky actor, who received engaged to Witherspoon whereas filming the drama, added: “However to must be related to a music, there could possibly be approach worse songs to be related to. You realize, it’s a very nice music nonetheless. And so after I hear these strings begin up, it does, it nonetheless makes me comfortable. So it makes me smile.” (Phillippe and Witherspoon tied the knot in 1999 however referred to as it quits seven years later.)
Along with Sebastian and Annette’s twisted love story, Merciless Intentions highlighted the key lives of a gaggle of Higher East prep faculty college students, together with their intercourse lives, mischievous actions and raunchy extracurricular jaunts.
One of the iconic scenes got here when Kathryn teaches Cecile Caldwell (Selma Blair) find out how to kiss whereas utilizing her as a ploy in her recreation. Plus, Cecile wants tips to win over her music trainer (Sean Patrick Thomas).
“Selma’s an ideal kisser,” Gellar completely instructed Us in February 2021. “I imply, I’ll inform you, it’s simply smooth [lips]. She smells nice.”
The Buffy the Vampire Slayer star confessed: “Kissing a woman on digicam is approach higher as a result of once you kiss a man, all of your make-up rubs off after which in between you must get these touch-ups. However [when] it’s a woman it’s, like, you’re good to go.”
Trying again, the I Know What You Did Final Summer season actress instructed Us she knew the movie could be “iconic” however she didn’t understand how profitable it will change into.
“Clearly, we knew folks could be excited by it, however I learn that script and I used to be so determined to be part of it,” Gellar added. “And I’ve liked it endlessly. I’ve seen each iteration, each Broadway model.”
Scroll right down to see what the forged of Merciless Intentions has been as much as since 1999:
