Watched: April 5, 2015 on Netflix

Hashtag: #WatchingHeathers

Year Released: 1988

Genre: Dark Comedy

Starring: Winona Ryder, Christian Slater, Shannen Doherty

Run Time: 103 minutes

Description (from IMDb): A girl who half-heartedly 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; killing the popular kids.

 

 

This teen comedy from the 80s is often compared to Clueless from the 90s and Mean Girls from the 00s.  And for good reason – all three are awesome.  Clueless is probably the least like the three as it has the popular girl as the heroine and not a villainy type, but Heathers is definitely the darkest.  It deals with heavy themes of teenage suicide, murder, and school massacres all while the characters are trying to either accept themselves for who they are or trying to completely hide who they really are in order to be accepted.

I have been having difficulty with the internet at my apartment this week, so I headed over to Starbucks today and sat for 4 hours, watching this and another film.  It was almost like I was watching with friends, even though I had headphones on and was sitting by myself.  There were distractions, moments when I had to pause due to MORE internet issues (stupid free public WiFi), but that almost made me enjoy the movie more. It felt more like a natural experience.

I really loved this movie.  It was so WEIRD. So random. So funny.  There were several moments I laughed aloud and caused other customers in Starbucks to look up and wonder what was wrong with me.  I’ve been quoting “What’s your damage, Heather?” for years  thanks to Gilmore Girls, but I have a feeling it’s going to become even more of a go-to phrase for me now.  I can’t wait to watch it again.

Did I mention I thought post-Girls Just Want to Have Fun, pre-90210, pre-Charmed Shannen Doherty was one of the best parts of the film?

 

It starts in the most 80s way ever, with permed, frizzy hair going up in a schrunchie #carriebradshawwouldNOTapprove #WatchingHeathers

— Rachel L. Hamm (@RLHammAuthor) April 5, 2015

Why don’t they use last initials? That’s what we did in my school with all the Ashleys #WatchingHeathers

— Rachel L. Hamm (@RLHammAuthor) April 5, 2015

Jason wants to poison heather, Veronica wants her to puke- very different objectives #WatchingHeathers

— Rachel L. Hamm (@RLHammAuthor) April 5, 2015

Cow-tipping has always been the height of sophisticated drunken fun #WatchingHeathers

— Rachel L. Hamm (@RLHammAuthor) April 5, 2015

How do you choose an outfit to go and confront your psycho ex who is trying to blow up your school? #WatchingHeathers

— Rachel L. Hamm (@RLHammAuthor) April 5, 2015

 

For more of my Heathers tweets, follow me on twitter @RLHammAuthor and search for #WatchingHeathers.