Heathers [Blu-ray]

Beyond Heathers

Heathers - 20th High School Reunion Edition

Heathers - Limited Edition Box Set

Heathers (THX Version)

As some reviewers lament, be prepared for parts that are dark and disturbing, but the film is also hilarious for the most part, and whatever your emotional reaction, the dialogue is never off-target. In fact the film's script and visual style are so clever that laughing at murder does not seem much of a guilty pleasure.

For all the talk of suicide, the underlying theme couches a universal and heartening meaning: that all people are created equal, the "in crowd" as well as the nerds.

You need your sense of humor in the right place, and if you've got it there, this movie comes highly recommended from me!


Darkly wonderful and peculiar gem of the 80s   June 24, 2004
QUEEN_OF_EVERYTHING (Outside Philly)
11 out of 12 found this review helpful

This dark comedy is laced with satire, humor, and wit, much like many of my favorite novels. Winona Ryder and Christian Slater make the ideal duo - until she realizes she needs "cool guys like him out of her life."

Winona, here as Veronica Sawyer, was formerly the best gal pal of dorky yet insanely innocent and kind Betty Finn (both character names are derived from the Archie comic strip). Now, she's taken it up with three girls by the name of Heather. Duke and Chandler may or may not be genuinely evil, while McNamara is just plain pathetically insecure. The thing is, Veronica hates her new so-called friends. It's just their "job to be popular and s***," that's all.

Christian Slater, to my utter dismay, seems to have disappeared off the face of the earth since this booming debut. Here, his performance mimicks that of witty and humorous Jack Nicolson.

"Greetings and salutations." :)

J.D. and Veronica make the ideal couple. Both are witty, bright, and loathe the existence of the high school world. Only J.D. is insanely violent as well, and his actions are bringing about vast repercussions for not only himself, but for Veronica as well. And Veronica is beginning to wise up and realize that J.D., despite his charms and wit, isn't worth all his trouble(s) and excess baggage. Besides, he's got an unhealthy fascination with guns.

After the demise of the leading Heather - their doing through liquid bleach - a second Heather takes her place as leader, even more aggressive and bratty than her predecessor.

Veronica ponders what to do over old and new friendships and accidental deaths in her diary. She and hunky J.D. manage to kill a Heather and two dim-witted jocks but escape suspicion for murder because they leave behind suicide notes. Veronica can perfectly imitate handwriting styles, as we find out during the first 5 minutes of the film when the three Heathers coerce her into writing a love note to high school outcast Martha "Dumptruck" Dunstock and signing a popular jock's signature to it. She approaches him at his lunch table and uproarious laughter ensues.

Teenage suicide seems to be all the rage in the world of Westerburg High, despite the popularity of fictional band Big Fun's hit single, "Teenage Suicide (Don't Do It)." Even though Veronica has left J.D. behind, he still has conjured up his own evil plans concerning the future of Westerburg. And the Heather in control is abusing her privileges - Veronica knows she wants out.

HEATHERS is so much more than a screwball comedy. Since its release, no other film has managed to live up to the same wit and dark humor and charm found throughout, making this film a genuine benchmark in the history of movies - and the 80s, for that matter. HEATHERS takes one glimpse at the work of ultra-cool 80s director/writer John Hughes and laughs in his face, making his Molly Ringwald flicks look like garbage in comparison.

Could this be why Winona is still alive in Hollywood and Molly is not?

Perhaps.


One of the best screenplays ever written brought to life   December 29, 2001
Ei (Seekonk, Massachusetts)
16 out of 19 found this review helpful

so amazingly well.
"Heathers" came out in 1989, and I was 20 years old then. Even though I was technically out of my teen years, I totally could appreciate this movie as it had some of the wittiest and most original dialogue ever to come out of any movie, especially a movie of the "teen" genre.
Not only is the screenplay the bomb, but the acting is superb.
Winona Ryder and Christian Slater have an amazing chemistry together, and they both truly carry this movie.
This is deemed to be one of the true classic movies of all time, in my honest opinion, even now, 12 years later and I am now in my 30's, I still love love love this movie!!!!
I just bought the dvd, and watched the film with the running audio commentary from the writer,(You rock, Daniel Waters!I'd love to see you write Heathers 2, just as Winona has been asking), the director,Michael Lehmann, and the very cheery producer, Denise Di novi.
It gives you real insight into the making of the film watching it this way. I didn't realize it had been made on such a small budget.
The movie itself is a great hour and a half of film. Like i said, it has some of the best dialogue to ever spring from the lips of actors. It's fairly intelligent, and I think people of all different age groups can appreciate the humour, the story, and the message that the story conveys.
If anyone knows where to find the screenplay for this movie, I'd love to hear from you. I've been looking for it on line, and have had no luck thus far.
This is definitely worth buying for those die hard fans of this film. Their are some extras on it such as the 30 minute "swatch dogs and diet coke heads", and the original ending of the screenplay, only in writing, it was never ok'd to be filmed.

So for the fans of the film, the dvd is worth purchasing.

For those just looking for something different, with comedic momments, although dark at times, and a truly unique screenplay, rent this film. It is worth at least one look...