A Michael Lehmann film about a typical American high school in the 80s where cliques reign supreme and to be popular is all you should ever hope to be. Veronica (Winona Ryder) is part of the queen bee clique of her school, but she yearns for simpler times when she could simply hang out with her less popular friends. Enter J. D. (Christian Slater), a new student and a born rebel that introduces her to a whole new world of attitude and irreverence. And murder.
Heathers is not to be taken all that seriously. It is a comedy beneath all its grotesque violence and body count. A black comedy, to be sure, but a comedy still.
And yet its message is surprisingly solemn. We care too much about social status and what our peers think about us. Way too much. And in J. D. Lehmann tries to rebel against that attitude. The boy goes way too far, but his initial impulse is not wrong. Nor is Veronica's wish to be able to be herself.
Some people will cry with laughter with this film. Some will find it off-putting. Such is the nature of black comedy. Any comedy, for that matter. Personally I found it hilarious and also poignant.
Heathers is not to be taken all that seriously. It is a comedy beneath all its grotesque violence and body count. A black comedy, to be sure, but a comedy still.
And yet its message is surprisingly solemn. We care too much about social status and what our peers think about us. Way too much. And in J. D. Lehmann tries to rebel against that attitude. The boy goes way too far, but his initial impulse is not wrong. Nor is Veronica's wish to be able to be herself.
Some people will cry with laughter with this film. Some will find it off-putting. Such is the nature of black comedy. Any comedy, for that matter. Personally I found it hilarious and also poignant.