Quartile rating: 8/10 · 1 rating
A girl who halfheartedly tries to be part of the "in crowd" of her school meets a rebel who teaches her a more devious way to play social politics: by killing the popular kids.
Heathers is a genuinely singular dark comedy that gleefully subverts the teen movie genre with razor-sharp satirical wit and an almost surreally sinister premise. The plot is inventively constructed, escalating its black comedy to audacious extremes that few films dare attempt. The novelty is undeniable — it remains one of the most distinctive, unmistakable teen films ever made, with a unique voice that influenced countless successors. Winona Ryder and Christian Slater deliver solid performances, though Slater's Jack Nicholson mimicry occasionally undermines authenticity. Cinematography is competent and stylized but not extraordinary. The ending is provocative and largely satisfying but slightly uneven in its resolution, softening some of the film's darkest edges in a way that slightly undercuts its own anarchic spirit.