Heathers

I was always a 'Veronica' and never a 'Heather', and maybe that's why as I grew I developed a personality. But Heathers was always a film I could relate to, I didn't secretly want to kill my girl-friends at school because they were hopelessly shallow and vacant to the point of being space itself. Infact, I was in the 'crazy - don't talk to them' weed-head crowd at school, all long hair and army boots. Which meant that I avoided the trials and tribulations of being or not being popular, but still that doesn't mean that I didn't observe them from a distant corner somewhere, bemused. 

I find it very hard to believe anyone would be brave enough to make this film now. A comedy about teenagers who kill off the popular kids at high school, at first a prank gone too far that quickly escalates to a planned mast homicide. Back when this film came out it seemed so extreme, that it was safe to laugh and not feel guilty. Like a Tom & Jerry cartoon. Because this would never actually happen, right? But heavy subtext aside, this film is genuinely funny and it should be just taken for what it is, an 80s teen comedy that bites back at you and draws a little blood. In a world of 3D smurf movies and remakes of remakes of remakes we can only remember with fond memories how good and original movies used to be. You could rewatch them until you knew ever quote and every background song. I've seen this film SO many times I could talk you through the whole film. I won't, but just know that I could if I wanted to.

Remember when Christian Slater was cool, and everyone was saying he was gonna be the next Jack Nicholson, because they had similar sounding voices,  vulcan-esque eyebrows and a forehead that went on FOREVER…? Well this is the role that earned his place on my bedroom wall and in the hearts of many teenagers (helped along by his role as DJ Happy Harry Hard-on in 'Pump Up The Volume' but we will cover that in another post). I remember seeing this film as a girl and wanting a boyfriend like JD, with his motorcycle, earring and homicidal tendencies. A trend I thought I'd grow out of eventually, but alas the change never came. 

Also worth watching just to remember the days when Winona ruled the world, and every month she'd be in another film playing a misunderstood small-town teenager who falls in love with the crazy/dead/scissorhanded weirdo kid just to be rejected but find her true self. But don't get me wrong, that's what we all loved about her.

Watch this film now, tell your boss you don't feel well, go home and on the way pick up some snacks, beer and a copy of this on dvd. Go now. Rebel a little, it won't hurt you.

"I like it. It's got that what-a-cruel-world-let's-toss-ourselves-in-the-abyss type ambience."

Peace & Love

Holly

xox

Soundtrack Highlight/Big Fun - Teenage Suicide (Don't Do It)