Heathers

New World Pictures | Release Date: March 31, 1989

5.1	USER SCORE Mixed or average reviews based on 146 Ratings

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Compi24May 10, 2014

"Heathers'" social commentary and dark humor cannot quite redeem the film from the doldrums that its jarring tonal shifts and stilted characterization methods produce.

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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SkydogJun 2, 2018

Decent movie.
It's definitely not over a 5 (which is what I'll give it).
It does a decent job of showing anti-bullying and anti-suicide.
However the acting is soooooo bad!!!!

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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FranzHcriticJul 24, 2015

It's not a typical teen flick from the 80s, that was merely spewed out for cash-grab. But unfortunately, the message is lost towards the ending. It merely becomes over-melancholic, and the death count becomes completely pointless. It's aIt's not a typical teen flick from the 80s, that was merely spewed out for cash-grab. But unfortunately, the message is lost towards the ending. It merely becomes over-melancholic, and the death count becomes completely pointless. It's a cynical film, which I respect, but it's muddled, has wooden dialogue and by the time the film is done, lacks a point.… Expand

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amheretojudgeMay 26, 2019

Ryder and Slater are unbeatable, literally, and yet only Lehmann comes out alive from this "walk in the woods".

Heathers Lehmann is clearly taking risks. No matter how lightly he may take things, the levity doesn't save him from bombingRyder and Slater are unbeatable, literally, and yet only Lehmann comes out alive from this "walk in the woods".

Heathers

Lehmann is clearly taking risks. No matter how lightly he may take things, the levity doesn't save him from bombing vigorously. But then, it is neither the warmth nor the drama it every now and then dips into the pool of. So, what is so magnetic about, the director, Michael Lehmann's project that we are gullible around him. His jokes aren't that smart, nor his content so layered and deep. I think, it is the cookiness of his world. Just by claiming this a teenager phase, he is not making an excuse. He sticks by it, igniting every action of these characters as a whimsical act- for them, at least- and so blind are they portrayed, that even an awe gasping aftermath that spirals out chaos, cannot shake them awake.

And another major triumph is speaking all of this through a sketchy comic vocab. The humor is subtle and acts respectively on both verbal and physical annotations which may not fill the room with laughter but will definitely plaster a smile in your face throughout the runtime of the film. Even, when these horrendous souls are ordered to look deep into themselves, the sheer pressure of the genre it tries to balance could not bare the heavyweight of the drama.

And in a way, film manages to duck out, its obvious textbook enemy or conflict. Usually, in a film as such, the makers have the urgency to justify and balance the world that they are depicting. But Lehman's final answer is not the court sentenced justice but the crime, the journey itself is. Something that we have all seen in Martin Scorsese's The Wolf Of The Wall Street, whose dark tedious three hour long journey calls out to the payment that was due, something that maybe, Heathers and Winona Ryder pays too.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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FilipeNetoSep 6, 2020

In this film, a young woman named Veronica manages to join the group of the most beautiful and popular girls at school: the Heathers. However, she quickly realizes that they are futile, cold, cruel and materialistic, and quickly gains a deepIn this film, a young woman named Veronica manages to join the group of the most beautiful and popular girls at school: the Heathers. However, she quickly realizes that they are futile, cold, cruel and materialistic, and quickly gains a deep dislike for them. This is where a new and unusual student comes in, with whom she quickly becomes involved. He is different and encourages her to take action. After a short while, they are murdering schoolmates... until she realizes that they are going too far.

It is a sarcastic and intelligent film that is recommended for its black humor but that should be viewed with caution by those who have more suggestible teenagers. The themes covered are appealing and the way the script does it is interesting and becomes really good if we take into account the quality of the cast, although it is not a particularly remarkable film for any of those involved. Nowadays, I think, it is a film that has fallen by the wayside, victim of the controversial theme that it decided to address.

I liked Winona Ryder's performance, still very young and beautiful. Christian Slater is also very good and they both do an excellent job together. I read that they were dating at the time and I personally believe that. I also really liked the performance of Shannen Doherty, Lisanne Falk and Kim Walker, who brought the three Heather's to life.

From a technical point of view it seemed to me a discreet film, betting more strongly on its plot, the story told and the performance of the actors. This was clearly a wise move by the director, Michael Lehmann, who knew perfectly well what he had in hand. Good cinematography and an intelligent use of colors and contrast are the most obvious elements, in addition to good sets, costumes and a soundtrack very well elaborated.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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benskylerhillMay 4, 2018

Heathers is a movie with high ambitions. It seeks to push comedic boundaries with its dark, insensitive humor while also serving as a social commentary on...society? The film has some great elements and ideas that it presents, but it justHeathers is a movie with high ambitions. It seeks to push comedic boundaries with its dark, insensitive humor while also serving as a social commentary on...society? The film has some great elements and ideas that it presents, but it just can't seem to find its balance between funny and thoughtful, and it can't seem to get its message across coherently.

On a purely technical level, Heathers is mediocre at best. It's clumsily edited on the basis of visuals and sound, featuring an unfitting, repetitive soundtrack and choppy camera cuts that make transitions between scenes sometimes awkward and completely butcher the climactic fight scene at the end of the film.

Winona Ryder (as usual) gives a standout performance as Veronica. She shows genuine erratic emotion in every scene, not only giving her character life on the screen but making her someone to care about. Everyone else (particularly Christian Slater as JD) gives passable performances but never really shows enough charisma to fulfill their purpose as a character.

Ultimately Heathers fails because the plot and script are such a mixed bag. When the movie goes for humor, it succeeds. The humor is dark and sometimes nonsensical, but it's very effective. I just wish there was more of it, because this a really funny movie. The plot is based on such an absolutely ridiculous concept of teenagers killing the bullies at their school to liberate the students that it should be fun! And it is fun, but only when the movie owns its humor and serves as a black comedy. The sheer fun stupidity of the premise makes it really difficult to take seriously the underlying social themes, and such serious commentary gets drowned out and obscured as a result.

In the end, Heathers is not a bad film. It has some fantastic elements of hilarity that have made it a cult classic today. But it tries to juggle all of its great ideas too quickly by taking itself too seriously when it should have gone for absurdity and it just can't hold all of it.

Story: 6
Acting: 6.5
Script: 8
Visuals/Sound: 3
Entertainment Value: 7

OVERALL SCORE: 6.1/10… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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HellHoleHorrorFeb 16, 2022

Seriously the most appealing thing about this little eighties monster is the title. It is a clever and memorable title that is let down by a very average movie. Firmly rooted in eighties style it becomes a chore to watch when the music isSeriously the most appealing thing about this little eighties monster is the title. It is a clever and memorable title that is let down by a very average movie. Firmly rooted in eighties style it becomes a chore to watch when the music is playing. The fun thing about it is the suicide theme. It is so satisfying to see these annoying teens dying off. Generally well acted and not the worst hundred minutes it is just lacking a sense of self-irony and style. The ending is terrible. It is not great and it is not bad. It is just a cheesy eighties teen rebellion movie.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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