Heathers || A Narrative Review

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("Heathers - JD Quote," n.d.)

Dear Diary,

Veronica Sawyer is trying to become a part of the clique in school known as the "Heathers."  However, she realizes that she is not okay with making fun of fellow classmates, or doing what is known as "lunchtime polls" at the behest of the girls in the clique.  During one such poll, she meets JD.  He's a brooding, cool, rebel who is quite comfortable with shooting a gun at a radio, or poisoning one of Veronica's "frenemies,"  and making it look like a suicide.  Will Veronica be able to grow a conscious when it comes to JD and stop him from continuing his psychotic killing?  Or will this become the beginning of a Bonnie and Clyde suicide-assassination of the students at Westerberg High?  
 

 
("Heathers - Trailer," 1988)

Heathers was written by Daniel Waters, and directed by Michael Lehmann.  Heathers stars an epic cast of 80's and 90's actors and actresses, the major ones including: Winona Ryder, Christian Slater, and Shannen Doherty.  This dark comedy was released March 31, 1989 ("Heathers (1988) - IMDb," n.d.)
 
("Heathers, JDs Insanity Progression Clips," n.d.)

Heathers is presented chronologically, this choice in aesthetics contributed to the effect on the audience by showing a progression in the characters behavior and what led up to the ultimate "end-game" within the storyline of JD attempting to blow up Westerberg High.  The character development of both JD and Veronica show that while JD progresses quickly into a sociopath status, Veronica ultimately regains her strength and becomes her own person, instead of continuing to follow the "strongest" person in her life, whether it be one of the Heathers, or JD. 

If Heathers had been filmed differently, or written differently, I am of the opinion it would not have been the cult classic that it has become.  Nor would it have been able to show so clearly, the progression of what can happen in High School due to cliques and the political behavior of teens in general, nor what happens when the teen that is low on the totem pole suddenly snaps, and reacts in a violent manner.


(New World Pictures, 1989)

** As a side note, Heathers can be found on Netflix currently, so I definitely suggest watching it, if you haven't seen it **



References

Heathers (1988) - IMDb. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097493/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Heathers - JD Quote [GIF]. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://24.media.tumblr.com/7efc44040e9b4bd6642b7c4378c09333/tumblr_mgwjq7tWWG1rn5a30o3_r1_250.gif

Heathers - Trailer [Video file]. (1988). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pt53Ises8QM

Heathers, JDs Insanity Progression Clips [Video file]. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Me2a2HEzZLs

New World Pictures. (1989). Heathers [Movie Poster]. Retrieved from http://www.movieposterdb.com/poster/6a990c87

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