‘Merciless Intentions’ Forged: The place Are They Now?

Lengthy Island iced tea, please! Twenty 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 college 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 using off into the sundown. Sadly, Sebastian isn’t by her facet — he sacrifices himself to save lots of 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 virtually each time. Regardless of the place I’m,” Phillippe solely informed Us Weekly in September 2021 of the enduring ultimate scene playlist. “And there’s been a few occasions 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 tune from throughout the way in which. After which there’ll be a gaggle of individuals waving to me. Like, they put the tune on a objective as a result of they noticed me there.”

The Huge Sky actor, who received engaged to Witherspoon whereas filming the drama, added: “However to must be related to a tune, there could possibly be means worse songs to be related to. You already know, it’s a extremely nice tune nonetheless. And so after I hear these strings begin up, it does, it nonetheless makes me blissful. 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 college college students, together with their intercourse lives, mischievous actions and raunchy extracurricular jaunts.

Probably the most iconic scenes got here when Kathryn teaches Cecile Caldwell (Selma Blair) the right way 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 incredible kisser,” Gellar solely informed Us in February 2021. “I imply, I’ll inform you, it’s simply tender [lips]. She smells nice.”

The Buffy the Vampire Slayer star confessed: “Kissing a woman on digicam is means higher as a result of whenever you kiss a man, all of your make-up rubs off after which in between it’s a must to 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 time actress informed Us she knew the movie can be “iconic” however she didn’t know the way profitable it could turn into.

“Clearly, we knew folks can 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 ceaselessly. I’ve seen each iteration, each Broadway model.”

Scroll all the way down to see what the solid of Merciless Intentions has been as much as since 1999: