Heathers (1988)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Michael Lehmann

Writer:

Daniel Waters (written by)

Release Date:

31 March 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Romance

Plot:

A girl who half-heartedly tries to be part of the "in crowd" of her school meets a rebel who teaches her a more devious way to play social politics.

Plot Keywords:

Heather | Suicide | Clique | High School | Death

Awards:

3 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Winona Ryder	...	Veronica
Christian Slater	...	J.D.
Shannen Doherty	...	Heather (Duke)
Lisanne Falk	...	Heather (McNamara)
Kim Walker	...	Heather (Chandler)
Penelope Milford	...	Pauline Fleming
Glenn Shadix	...	Father Ripper
Lance Fenton	...	Kurt Kelly
Patrick Labyorteaux	...	Ram
Jeremy Applegate	...	Peter Dawson
Jon Matthews	...	Rodney
Carrie Lynn	...	Martha Dunnstock aka Dumptruck
Phill Lewis	...	Dennis
Renée Estevez	...	Betty Finn (as Reneé Estevez)
John Zarchen	...	Country Club Keith

Also Known As:

Fatal Game (USA) (working title)
Lethal Attraction (USA) (working title)
Westerberg High (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | South Korea:15 | France:-16 | Canada:18A (Canadian Home Video rating) | UK:15 (re-rating) | Australia:M | Canada:14A | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R (NO. 29338) | West Germany:18

Filming Locations:

Corvales High School - 2921 Laurel Canyon Boulevard, Laurel Canyon, Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

New World Pictures

Trivia:

The role of Veronica was intended for Jennifer Connelly who turned it down.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Martha Dumptruck is alone in the gym drinking her soda through a straw, we see through the bottom that she finishes it all. She then spills the finished soda on the front of her shirt.

Quotes:

J.D.: Our love is God, let's go get a Slushie.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Sex and Death 101 (2007)

Soundtrack:

Teenage Suicide Don't Do It

I'll admit it, I was a Veronica!

When this film came out, I didn't see it in the theater. I caught it in the video store. I walked into the video store and the funeral for the Football player was running. I stopped, watched, and laughed my head off. I immediately rented "Heathers" and fell in love with it.

"Heathers" is the realization of what almost every kid in high school was exposed to at one time or another. You were either a "Heather" or a "Veronica" or the spooky/mysterious new kid, or the jock, or the undesirable, or the cheerleader, or the kid who wanted "in" as a "Heather" or..or..or. The only thing is that "Heathers" goes on to show you what happens "if"...If you could get away with some of the things you were thinking of at the time!

The actions of the parents and teachers are to die for. When you're young you think you can figure out just about anything, or figure out what the adults are thinking and try to get around it. "Heathers" gets into it all, very darkly, and carries it off well. Although I thought the ending was a bit too...tidy.

If you're in High School, (over 17 of course) or in College looking back at High School, you'll identify with this film. If you're an adult, this may remind you of those days, but this is a nicely done dark humored film. Go rent it today, see it uncut.