‘Dear Diary, my teen-angst bullshit now has a body count...’
Written as a cynical and misanthropic response to the more upbeat teen films of the era (specifically those created by John Hughes), Heathers is undoubtedly the darkest film ever released in this subgenre despite the slew of imitators that followed in its wake (Jawbreaker, Cruel Intentions, Jennifer’s Body etc). While it’s message of hopelessness is somewhat muddled by the film’s conclusion (changed at the insistence of the producers), Heathers remains a potent, and crucially, hilarious satire of the coming-of-age teen comedy…
Westerburg High School in Sherwood, Ohio, like all schools, is ruled over by the popular kids. In this case, three of the most popular girls all happen to be called Heather (played by Shannen Doherty, Lisanne Falk and Kim Walker). The fourth member of their clique, Veronica Sawyer (Winona Ryder), is a little more troubled and intellectual than her peers. When Veronica hooks up with J.D. (Christian Slater – channelling his inner Jack Nicholson), the pair prove to be dangerous and combustible – not just to themselves but also to the entire school.
Boy, Winona really was an unstoppable force in her early career, wasn’t she? Despite being only 16 years old at time of filming, she delivers a compelling and assured performance that carries the film through its more outrageous moments. In lesser hands, this whole thing could have come across as a little silly. It’s a testament to the performance of both Ryder and Slater (they share a genuine chemistry here) that Heathers remains convincing and captivating throughout. The real star here, however, is Daniel Waters’ sensational script. Not a word is wasted, and its influence can be felt across teen pop culture generally but most clearly in the work of Joss Whedon and Kevin Williamson. It’s hard to imagine a world without Heathers that still includes Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Dawson’s Creek.
In a post-Columbine world, it’s impossible to imagine a film as transgressive and challenging as Heathers receiving a wide release and this is shame. Luckily, we’ll always have the original.
