In the 1999 film Cruel Intentions two wicked step-siblings, Kathryn and Sebastian, spend their days living the good life as wealthy and spoiled teenagers in New York City who each find pleasure in manipulating, blackmailing and ruining the lives of different people they’ve dated, befriended, or had issues with. They do this for sport. While both of these teens are dark and twisted, Sebastian is a character I’ve always found intriguing. He was a villain with a conscience. His stepsister? Not so much. At the start of the film, Kathryn recruits her stepbrother to seduce an unsuspecting mentee named Cecile, who Kathryn has taken under her wing and secretly wants to destroy in an effort to get revenge on her ex who dumped her for Cecile. But at the same time, Sebastian presents a plan to seduce their school’s new headmaster’s daughter, Annette, who happens to have strong views and beliefs about chastity. He believes he can make Annette compromise her beliefs. So, Kathryn and Sebastian make a bet. If Sebastian can seduce Annette, Kathryn will sleep with him. If he doesn’t, Kathryn gets Sebastian’s vintage vehicle – which he loves. Unfortunately for Sebastian, Annette is well informed of his bad reputation and at first, she shows complete disinterest in his attempts to woo her. But as the film progresses, both of them starts falling for each other. And they eventually fall in love. This then prompts anger in Kathryn, who has strong feelings for her stepbrother. His actions also prompt his horrible stepsister to wreck even more havoc on him, his love life, and the lives of innocent others they both originally conspired to destroy. Sebastian was cruel but throughout the film, he begins to think about his ways and the closer he gets to Annette the more he wants out of the bet he made. His character is a great example that transformation for the good is possible. Even if it arrives a little too late. Throughout the film, Sebastian also keeps a journal that will become a significant item to pay close attention to as the story progresses. Let’s just say his journal will be the struck match that shows his stepsister the true meaning of Proverbs 18:3 – “When wickedness comes, so does contempt, and with shame comes disgrace.” If you’ve ever seen this film you already know what happens but if you haven’t, you’ll be in for one of the sweetest revenge endings ever. A change of heart is possible for anyone. Even a cruel villain like Sebastian. And perhaps it’s all the more possible when the right person comes along.