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Winona Ryder, Christian Slater, Shannen Doherty, Lisanne Falk, Kim Walker ... see more see more... , Penelope Milford , Glenn Shadix , Lance Fenton , Jeremy Applegate , Carrie Lynn , Mark Bringelson , Mark Carlton , Bill Cort , Renee Estevez , Kevin Hardesty , John Ingle , Chuck La Font , Patrick Laborteaux , Phill Lewis , Stuart Mabray , Jon Mathews , Bess Meyer , Jennifer Rhodes , Josh Richman , Kirk Scott , Kent Stoddard , Sherrie Wills , John Zarchen , Larry Cox , Andy David , Ursula Martin , Aaron Mendelson

A deliciously nasty black comedy, Heathers is set at a cliquish high school in Ohio. The most exclusive of those cliques is the Heathers, comprised of the prettiest and most popular girls in town. The... read more read more... group's leader is the manipulative Kim Walker, who orchestrates the humiliation of anyone who fails to meet her standards. Eventually, Heathers member Winona Ryder begins to exhibit a conscience; together with her hardcase boyfriend Christian Slater, Ryder plots to avenge all the unfortunate victims of the group. Before long, Heather (Kim Walker) ends up dead along with Kurt and Ram, with poignant suicide notes posted near their bodies. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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R, 1 hr. 42 min.

Directed by: Michael Lehmann

Release Date: June 1, 1988

Keywords: teen, 80's, school

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DVD Release Date: March 30, 1999

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Heathers Heathers JD Veronica & JD Suicide Christian Slater as J.D. Heathers Heathers Heathers Veronica JD & Veronica Heathers Heathers Heathers Heathers Heathers Veronica Heathers
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Flixster Reviews (4,832)

  • TomBowler
    March 20, 2012
    TomBowler
    Funny, twisted, a little bit crazy. And Christian Slater is possibly the coolest guy in history. For a while there. Full review later.
  • blkbomb
    March 11, 2012
    blkbomb
    Veronica Sawyer: It's one thing to want someone out of your life, but it's another thing to serve them a wake-up cup full of liquid drainer. 

    "Best friends, social trends and occasional murder."

    If you're a fan of black comedies this one is for you. It's dark, mean, twisted, an... read mored fucked up like a good black comedy should be. This is a teen comedy unlike any other teen comedy. This isn't about getting laid or smoking pot. It's so atypical even for today's standards. Actually I couldn't see a film like this even being made today. We tend to be a little hesitant about material like this now. Post-Columbine, I don't think this shit would have flown, but back in the eighties; this had to be funny in a way no other movie had ever been.

    Heathers is the name of the "in" clique of girls at a small high school in Ohio. Three of the four girls are named Heather, all of which are bitches; the fourth is Veronica, and she seems to have a conscious to deal with. Veronica meets and begins dating a new kid, James, who shows her a new way to deal with the people who make her life and other kids lives miserable. 

    I'm a huge fan of dark comedies, and typically the darker they are, the more I love them. Heathers is extremely dark. It deals with teen suicide, teen murder, schools being blown up, and other tidbits of high school life that are dark, but don't compare to the three previous listed. The material is handled with such care and intelligence. The film is very smart, with great dialogue and terrific characters. This may be my favorite performance ever from Winona Ryder. As for Christian Slater, he's good, but not quite as good as he was in another great dark comedy, Very Bad Things.

    You should know before hand if you'll be able to laugh at this movie. Times have changed now and we're extremely cautious about being politically correct when it comes to the situations explored in Heathers. So if the themes bother you, I wouldn't recommend it. But if you can handle it, it's one of those films that's a must see.
  • mumby1988
    January 28, 2012
    mumby1988
    When it comes to American high school films, the 1980s belonged to John Hughes. Through Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club and Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Hughes perfected a sweet, light-hearted and nostalgic look at adolescence which touched the hearts of a generation. But like m... read moreany trendsetters before him, it wasn't long before the master's work was widely imitated and devalued until it became an out-of-touch caricature. Such efforts were often enjoyable, but we never believed that we were seeing real teenagers on screen - and in the case of Hughes' later works, that was very often true.

    In the midst of all this pastel-shaded gaiety, Heathers comes at you like a fizzling flask of vitriol, burning through those pleasant but deceptive veils to reveal the dark and bitchy underbelly of high school life. To this day it remains one of the darkest, funniest and edgiest comedies of the 1980s, which will make you howl with laughter even as you squirm in discomfort. While not an easy watch, it has lost none of its potency in 23 years, and is perhaps second only to Lindsay Anderson's If.... as the greatest high school film of all time.

    While the John Hughes stable of films were often accused of being conservative, Heathers' production history suggests a work of great artistic ambition. Daniel Waters wrote the script with the intention of Stanley Kubrick directing it - a huge ambition for a first-time screenwriter. Waters believed that Kubrick was the only director who could get away with a three-hour film, and the only person who could make the definitive high school film, to go with the definitive sci-fi film in 2001.

    First-time director Michael Lehmann, who had made a splash on the cult circuit with his short film Beaver Gets A Boner, got the gig of directing Heathers through his friendship with producer Denise di Novi. Di Novi was hot property in Hollywood in the late-1980s, having worked with Tim Burton on his hit comedy Beetlejuice, starring Winona Ryder. Ryder was offered the part after the success of Beetlejuice, proclaiming it to be the best script she had ever read. The rest, as they say, is history.

    The look of Heathers is a very conscious departure from the John Hughes stable. The opening scenes, where the Heathers and Veronica are introduced, are a clear parody of Hughes, with bright and welcoming pastel shades which become darker as things move on. There is a dreamy feel to the opening act with soft focus around the edges of the screen, with Lehmann seeking to achieve the same hypnotic, discomforting effect that David Lynch did in Blue Velvet. Little by little the colours grow harsher and darker, culminating in a dream sequence which rivals Suspiria in its luridness; the prominent use of red and Ryder's passing resemblance to Jessica Harper put these sections aesthetically close to Dario Argento.

    The visuals of Heathers play an important part in the film's dismantling of preconceptions that high school is the happiest time of your life. It depicts the various cliques at Westerburg High (the jocks, the nerds and of course the Heathers) with the perfect balance of the real and the extreme. Even if the bullies or the bitches we encountered weren't quite so hideous or self-absorbed, there is more than enough truth in their characterisations to make us shudder and recoil. The uptight, immaculate look of the Heathers perfectly encapsulates all those teenage girls who played on the affections and fears of others to hide their own insecurities.

    The script of Heathers is nothing short of terrific, with scenes and sequences that are as good, if not slightly better, than anything Quentin Tarantino was turning out in the same period. Many of its one-liners have entered into cinema history, such as Heather Chandler's sarcastic retort, "Fuck me gently with a chainsaw", when Veronica suggests they hang out with different kinds of people. Some of the lines are hilariously surreal, like Ram's father exclaiming "I love my dead gay son" as Ram lies in an open coffin in his American football kit. But others are so scabrous that they make even hardened pros wince - for instance, JD's comment that "Kurt and Ram had nothing left to offer the school except for date rapes and AIDS jokes."

    The best lines in Heathers are those which tap right into the teenage angst and low self-esteem of the characters. Early on in the film, the Heathers are chatting in the girls' toilets. Heather Duke, who suffers from bulimia, is teased by the girls with phrases like "don't you feel the urge to purge?" When she finally gives in and starts throwing her guts up, Heather Chandler rolls her eyes and remarks dismissively: "bulimia is so 1987". Later on in the film, Veronica writes a long passage in her diary which begins "My teen angst bullshit has a body count" and concludes: "Are we going to prom or to hell?". Lines like these are stupendously inventive in conveying the pressures of high school and the hypocrisies of the in-crowd.

    The film is utterly merciless towards its characters and the audience. Every time you think the film has reached its limits, and drawn a line in the sand, it takes a full stride over that line and pulls you over head first. It doesn't take long to adjust to the tone of Heathers in and of itself, but the jokes become darker and more inventive with every turn. One of the best examples of this comes when JD and Veronica are slumped in the car having just killed Kurt and Ram. Veronica takes the cigarette lighter and applies it to her hand in self-flagellation; JD stops her, before leaning over to light his cigarette from her smouldering palm.

    Just as Monty Python's Life of Brian is a film about blasphemy rather than a blasphemous film, so Heathers is a film which mocks the media presentation of teenage suicide rather than teenage suicide itself. It handles the subject with a ruthless intelligence, showing how the act of suicide can produce bizarre psychological reactions, turning enemies into martyrs and uniting completely different kinds of people. It also shows how parents and the media approach the issue in a way which is ultimately irrelevant or ineffective to the needs of the children. In its handling of a difficult and complex subject matter in a way which is both visceral and stimulating, Heathers is on a par with We Need To Talk About Kevin - and on that front, there is no higher praise.

    Although it seems odd to say it, Heathers comes across as quite a moral film. The film entertains the fantasy of all frustrated or bullied teenagers, namely wishing death upon their enemies, and shows the central character coming through triumphant by being true to herself and asserting her own way of treating people. It is a coming-of-age film insofar as Veronica endures by reaching a point of maturity, where she need no longer entertain such evil desires.

    From this perspective, JD is the physicalisation of Veronica's desires or temptations. He acts like the little devil on her shoulder who is at once repulsive and irresistible. JD gives her what she wants in terms of affection and satisfaction, but at the cost of losing control of her own destiny, and Veronica's eventual defeat of JD is her recognition that she doesn't have to be a bitch or a psycho to survive in life. There is a comparison with Let The Right One In in how the film uses an outsider character to represent the burgeoning, adolescent aggression of the characters, with similarly destructive results.

    There has been some debate over the ending of Heathers since the film was first released. The ending Lehmann originally envisioned involved Veronica blowing up the entire school and the cast re-uniting in heaven at a massive prom. In hindsight this would have been a little fanciful, treading too close to the 'Christmas in Heaven' sequence from Monty Python's The Meaning of Life. The ending as it stands is perfect, completing Veronica's defeat of both her demons and the Heathers, ushering in a new phase of her life.

    Heathers is a terrifically dark comedy which remains unrivalled in the pantheon of American high school films. The performances are first-class, with Winona Ryder in terrific form as Veronica and Christian Slater channelling Jack Nicholson from The Witches of Eastwick. Their great work is complimented with Waters' outstanding script and Lehmann's sharp direction, all of which conspires to create a true, dark-hearted masterpiece. One thing is for certain - after seeing Heathers, you'll never look at high school the same way again.
  • fb791220692
    December 23, 2011
    fb791220692
    It both reaffirms my belief that movies portraying teenagers made in past decades will never be as relatable or timeless for younger generations as many seem to believe, and also that there is still invaluable information to be gained from the 80s pioneering excursions into high-... read moreschool based coming-of-age stories. Heathers is funny, dark, honest, and features some fantastic performances from Christian Slater and, of course, Winona Ryder (at her very best).
  • lewiskendell
    October 25, 2011
    lewiskendell
    "Dear diary, my teen angst bullsh*t has a body count."

    Heathers is a wicked teenage black comedy starring a smokin' hot young Wynona Rider and an unhinged, charismatic Christian Slater. I have to say I enjoyed the first half more than the second, when the tone shifts to more ser... read moreious territory, but overall, this was a pretty good movie and a whole 'nother animal compared to a lot of the other popular 80's high school movies.
  • theunknownhobo
    September 11, 2011
    theunknownhobo
    One of the old school classics this movie predates both the downfall of Ryder and Slater. Original, hilarious and grimly deep, Heathers seeks to find the core of popularity and the cost at which some would go to not only get it, but to take it away from others. A truly intelligen... read moret movie mostly void of the usual teenage narrative, this is one of my faves within the genre.
  • hunterjt13
    September 1, 2011
    hunterjt13
    A member of a popular high school clique teams up with her new boyfriend to murder her classmates.
    I understand that this film was made in the 80s, well before Columbine and Virginia Tech, but watching it now, I can't help but be uncomfortable with the film's dark premise. The i... read moredea of dead classmates and mass murder by blowing up the school are now dark realities, and I think the film couldn't use these same themes for comedic fodder now. Even if school violence was not a part of our culture lexicon, I still don't see the film's point of view. What is it satirizing? What is being sent up for ridicule? Pretension? Cliqueishness?
    I also found the dialogue stilted. Veronica even directly refers to herself as being a member of "the popular clique," a line that is nothing but expository, and Kim Walker's delivery of mawkishly threatening lines comes off as juvenile.
    Overall, I think this film's time has passed.
  • murphmann93
    June 23, 2011
    murphmann93
    A really great 80's film. Throughly enjoyed it. Not just your average chick flick. A must see!
  • cosmo313
    April 6, 2011
    cosmo313
    This film is so close to getting an A- that it ain't even funny.

    This is a terrific black comedy/teen film from the 80s. If Mean Girls were a little bit dated, and more hardcore, then it would look basically like this film. The first half is wonderfully darkly comedic and sat... read moreiric, and, while that does carry over into the second half, the stakes get raised, but ultimately the film ends a bit weaker than the lead up to it would suggest. That's pretty much the only complaint I have, and why it's not an A-.

    Good cast, decent performances, and a fun take on the "bitchy high school clique" scenario, all add up to make this a fun movie worth seeing. Too bad it starts to run out of steam, but don't let that stop you from checking it out.
  • ajv2688
    March 14, 2011
    ajv2688
    My absolute favourite teen black comedy movie of all time! The story is fantastic, dramatic and comedic, the actors are perfect, especially Slater, who I fell in love with because of this movie, and for some reason this movie cheers me up when I'm feeling down. It's so hilariou... read moresly awesome, I love it, and I highly recommend it.

View All Heathers Reviews

Critic Reviews

Richard Corliss
August 31, 2010
Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine

Heathers locates the emotional totalitarianism lurking in a prom queen's heart. Full Review

Variety Staff
August 31, 2010
Variety Staff, Variety

A super-smart black comedy about high school politics and teenage suicide that showcases a host of promising young talents. Full Review

Mick LaSalle
July 15, 2008
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

Two decades later, Heathers is so on the money, with its vague but unmistakable parallels to several school shootings, that it could never be made today. Full Review

Todd McCarthy
July 18, 2007
Todd McCarthy, Variety

A super-smart black comedy about high school politics and teenage suicide that showcases a host of promising young talents. Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum
July 18, 2007
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

Its inanities and glib pretensions are so thick that it mainly comes across as tacky and contrived. Full Review

Janet Maslin
May 20, 2003
Janet Maslin, New York Times

As snappy and assured as it is mean-spirited. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

For a long time, we're not even sure of the point of view: Is this a black comedy about murder or just a cynical morality play? The traveler in the foreign country is not sure, but he knows the film i... Full Review

Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

May be the nastiest, cruelest fun you can have without actually having to study law or gird leather products. Full Review

Rita Kempley
January 1, 2000
Rita Kempley, Washington Post

More than just one of the best movies so far this year, it is a revolution in young-adult entertainment. Full Review

Maria Llull
January 2, 2011
Maria Llull, Common Sense Media

After Columbine, this dark comedy isn't as funny. Full Review

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Facts

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    • J.D.: The only place different social types can genuinely get along with each other is in heaven.
    • Pauline Fleming: Whether to kill yourself or not is one of the most important decisions a teenager can make.
    • J.D.: Society nods its head at any horror the American teenager can think to bring upon itself.
    • Heather Duke: Some people need different kinds of convincing than others.
    • Heather McNamara: Suicide is a private thing.
    • J.D.: The extreme always seems to make an impression.
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Heathers Trivia

  • In the movie Heathers, what game do the "Heathers" always play?  Answer »
  • This actress is in the following movies: Heathers Little Women Girl, Interrupted Autumn in New York   Answer »
  • name the movie in which this is a line from: "god heather grow up, bulimia is like so 1987  Answer »
  • Which actor and actress played Veronica and JD in the 1988 black comedy "Heathers"?  Answer »
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