Vintage Pick: “Heathers”

“Heathers” (1988) is the original “Mean Girls”, just with a murderous and macabre twist. The film focuses on Veronica (Winona Rider), the standout girl in the most popular clique in school, the Heathers, so named because all three of the other members are named Heather.

Veronica is deep, romantic, wears monocles and yet she still hangs out with the Heathers, each of whom has an assigned color, eat foie gras and play croquet. So when Veronica meets J.D. (Christian Slater), the new, rebellious boy in school, she is instantly drawn to his dark mystery. After finally becoming fed up with The Heathers, J.D. suggests that Veronica finds a permanent solution to her problem: murder.

After J.D. does what Veronica couldn’t, they find themselves in over their heads and decide to cover it up with a suicide note. Unfortunately, popularity has a way of causing people to imitate others. As suicide becomes the new trend, Veronica finds herself in deeper and deeper trouble with J.D.

Though the film has a dark subject matter, it handles the morbid topic with the wit and hilarity of a Tim Burton film. The sheer absurdity of suicide becoming popular mixed with the outrageous fashion statements and colors of the ‘80s create a truly unique film that has yet to see an equal in originality.