"Cruel Intentions" is the second physical single from Simian Mobile Disco's second album Temporary Pleasure. It was co-written by Beth Ditto, who also sings on the track.

The video for "Cruel Intentions" was directed by Saam Farahmand and was originally released on November 25, 2009. It is a shorter version of the short film "Study After Cruel Intentions" featuring Sharon Maughan, Lysette Anthony, Pooky Quesnel, Joanna Fussey, and Charlotte Weston. The longer version of the film is 20 minutes. Simian Mobile Disco's James Ford explained to NME that the video was difficult to produce because it was considered too unconventional due to its length. "We had quite a lot of opposition to it because it doesn't really work with a traditional music format," he said. "It's useless as a marketing tool in that respect. We wanted to do something that stood up in its own right. It wasn't another pointless video."

Dan Weiss of Pitchfork Media complimented Ditto's vocals, saying: "Here she out-lungs her mostly anonymous competition, and SMD percolate behind her with such spring I keep waiting for Los Del Rio to spit game."Digital Spy's David Balls wrote that the song "isn't massively original, but if you need something to help you work off those last few mince pies (and roast potatoes, and pigs-in-blankets...), this is a cool, classy option."

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