A precursor to the culturally iconic Mean Girls, Heathers stars Winona Rider as Veronica, a teen on the edge of the popular girl clique, quietly suffering their cruelty. What ensues is an unforgettable black comedy.
In his review of Heathers, Roger Ebert observes, “Adulthood could be defined as the process of learning to be shocked by things that do not shock teenagers.” For those looking for offense, we expect that the many shocks of Heathers will deliver. But for those who enjoy a black comedy with coming-of-age angst, it’ll provide enough laughs to knock you out of your easy chair.
The title refers to a trio of popular girls, all named Heather, who rule their high school by cruelly humiliating those they deem deserving. A precursor to the culturally iconic Mean Girls, Heathers stars Winona Ryder as teenaged Veronica, who is taken in by the Heathers and quietly suffers from their cruelty. And Christian Slater, back when he was still hailed as the next Jack Nicholson, is J.D., a cool and mysterious outsider who doesn’t take kindly to the jocks and divas who fill the school. As it turns out, he doesn’t have those pesky morals that have kept all of us from hitting back at the mean girls in our lives.
Both of the young talents earn their laurels in this collaboration of innocence and evil that determines to wipe out all the cruel kids. This one’s an all-time favorite.