Cruel Intentions Christian Review
There’s a frustrating emptiness at the heart of Cruel Intentions, and not the kind that makes you reflect deeply on life’s brokenness or the human condition. It’s the kind of emptiness that comes from a lack of substance, from stories so entangled in surface-level scandal that they lose sight of anything meaningful. Watching this eight-episode series, you can’t help but feel like you’re looking at a faded photocopy of a photocopy.
It wants to be edgy. It wants to shock you. It even wants to feel profound at times. But at the end of every episode, you’re left asking the same question: What’s the point?
Recycled Drama, Wasted Potential
We’ve seen it before. The manipulative sibling duo. The tangled love triangles. The calculated power plays. If you’ve ever watched the original Cruel Intentions movie from the late ’90s, you know this formula. The problem isn’t necessarily that the show reuses old tropes—there’s nothing wrong with revisiting familiar territory if you bring something new to the table. But this series doesn’t.
Instead, it slaps a modern coat of paint on tired storylines without doing the work to make them feel fresh or meaningful. Fraternity hazing? A sex tape scandal? Embezzlement? These could have been vehicles for exploring deeper truths about power, identity, and consequences. Instead, they feel like shallow attempts to manufacture drama, like someone ticked off a checklist labeled “Controversial Plot Points.”
For a Christian viewer, the show’s lack of depth is glaring. Stories of moral failure and manipulation can be compelling—after all, the Bible is full of them. Think of David’s sin with Bathsheba or Peter’s denial of Christ. But what makes those stories resonate is their honesty and the way they lead to redemption. In Cruel Intentions, there’s no such honesty. The characters don’t grow; they just scheme, leaving you with the impression that all of their energy is being wasted on games with no real stakes.
A World Without Real Consequences
One of the most troubling aspects of the show is how little weight it gives to its characters’ choices. A hazing gone wrong leaves a young man brain-damaged, yet the emotional fallout feels perfunctory at best. Relationships crumble under the weight of betrayal, but no one seems truly affected.
This is a world where people play games with each other’s lives, yet no one seems to pause and consider the cost. It’s frustrating because, as Christians, we know that our actions have consequences—not just for ourselves, but for others. Galatians 6:7 reminds us that we reap what we sow. Watching Cruel Intentions, you can’t help but feel like the show has forgotten this truth.
And it’s not just the characters who suffer for it; the storytelling does, too. Without real consequences, there’s no tension, no sense of urgency. Even the “big” moments—a sex tape leaking, a financial scandal erupting—feel like they’ve been drained of their impact.
No Redemption, No Heart
At its best, Cruel Intentions could have been a story about sin and its consequences, about people lost in their own ambition and pride who find their way back to something greater. But the show shies away from anything resembling redemption.
Instead, it revels in cynicism. The sibling relationship at the heart of the story is more icky than compelling, their power plays devoid of charm or purpose. The love triangle involving Caroline, Lucien, and Annie has moments of potential, but it’s buried under so much manufactured drama that it’s hard to care. And while the series flirts with darker, taboo elements, it never fully commits to them, leaving the narrative toothless and unsatisfying.
As Christians, we believe in the power of redemption. We know that even the most broken stories can be redeemed by grace. Think of Saul becoming Paul, the prodigal son returning home, or Peter being reinstated by Jesus after his denial. There’s hope in those stories—hope that even in our darkest moments, we are not beyond saving. Watching Cruel Intentions, you get the sense that its characters are stuck in their brokenness with no way out, and worse, that the show has no interest in finding one for them.
Characters Without Connection
Chemistry is crucial in any ensemble cast, and unfortunately, Cruel Intentions has none of it. The relationships, which should drive the story, feel cold and transactional. Characters interact with one another, but there’s no spark, no genuine connection.
This absence of relationship makes the show feel hollow. We are created for meaningful connection, for relationships that reflect God’s love and purpose. The Bible speaks of bearing one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2), of loving one another as Christ loved us (John 13:34). But in Cruel Intentions, relationships are just tools for manipulation, and love is nowhere to be found.
The Problem with “Mindless Entertainment”
Some might argue that Cruel Intentions doesn’t need to be deep or meaningful—it’s just mindless entertainment. And there’s nothing inherently wrong with watching something light and fluffy now and then. But even mindless entertainment shapes how we think, what we value, and how we view the world.
Philippians 4:8 encourages us to dwell on what is true, noble, right, pure, and lovely. That doesn’t mean Christians should only watch overtly faith-based media, but it does mean we should think critically about what we consume. Shows like Cruel Intentions, which celebrate selfishness and cynicism without offering any deeper truths, risk leaving us feeling as empty as the stories they tell.
Missed Opportunities
What’s most frustrating about Cruel Intentions is the sense of wasted potential. This could have been a show about ambition and its costs, about the human condition and our need for grace. It could have explored the consequences of sin with honesty and vulnerability. Instead, it settles for cheap drama and forgettable characters.
Imagine if the show had leaned into its darker themes and paired them with a message of hope. Imagine if its characters had been allowed to confront their flaws and grow from them. That’s a story worth telling, one that could resonate deeply with audiences—Christian or otherwise.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, Cruel Intentions feels like a missed opportunity. It’s a series that wants to be edgy but lacks the courage to take risks. It wants to be meaningful but refuses to dig beneath the surface. And it wants to entertain but often feels like it’s going through the motions.
For Christian viewers, it’s a reminder of the importance of seeking out stories that challenge and inspire us. Even when exploring brokenness, the best stories point us toward hope and redemption. Cruel Intentions doesn’t, and that’s why it ultimately falls flat.
Rating: 4/10
If you’re looking for mindless entertainment, you might find something to enjoy here. But if you want a story with heart, depth, or purpose, look elsewhere. Dust off the old Cruel Intentions DVD instead—or better yet, spend your time on something that will leave you feeling enriched rather than empty.
