In this direct-to-video prequel to the 1999 feature
Cruel Intentions, Kathryn Merte (
Amy Adams) is the manipulative, cold-hearted daughter of social climber Tiffany Merte-Valmont (
Mimi Rogers). Tiffany has just married again, and Kathryn is not getting along well with her new stepbrother Sebastian (Robin Dunne), who is just as skilled in the venomous art of social gamesmanship as Kathryn. Together they negotiate the tricky paths of sexual and personal power at their upscale private high school, Manchester Prep. Cruel Intentions II began life as Manchester Prep, a TV series for the Fox network that was spun off from the hit film by director and screenwriter Roger Kumble. However, the show's portrayal of sexually voracious teens sparked a controversy in the press, and Fox opted to cancel the series before the two episodes that had been completed ever aired. The footage from the completed shows was combined with new material created by Kumble to make this feature. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide