Heathers

Movie review by Maria Llull, Common Sense Media
Heathers Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 16+

After Columbine, this dark comedy isn't as funny.

R 1989 103 minutes
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Parents say

age 13+

Based on 30 reviews

Kids say

age 13+

Based on 176 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Heathers is a pitch-black comedy that teens will probably want to see, but it's better for those just exiting high school and up. This film goes to extremes portraying the cruelness of the popular crowd and the rebellion against it. The popular kids are murdered by poisoning and shooting and their suicide notes are forged. There are two more "real" attempted suicides, some self-mutilation, and bulimia. There's lots of gunplay by the main characters and one bloody scene. J.D. attempts to blow up the school and all its students with dynamite. Teens have sex (outdoors and at a college party) and speak crudely about it. Two boys are sexually aggressive. And there's plenty of harsh and homophobic language.

Community Reviews

hbGidwits01.bvsd.org
hbGidwits01.bvsd.org Adult
February 19, 2022
age 18+

I would never recommend for anyone ever

The Heathers is extremely violent just the premise of the movie can tell you that. If you don’t know it’s about school violence and has weapons and violent tools used for school violence. There is abuse in it and lots of sex. I would totally not recommend for children of any sort. There is also lots of suffering and swearing. The characters are seen drinking and doing drugs and smoking and pass it off in a casual tone. Of course none of this behavior is acceptable. I will leave you with my last point being that this film would not be made today and was only made back then because none of the stuff that happens in the movie actually happened back then in the days when it was made but today there is a lot more school violence actually happening in the real world.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
3 people found this helpful.
Limecastle085
Limecastle085 Adult
January 1, 2021
age 10+

Educated and mature pre teens (SPOILER ALERT)

It contains sex, lots of violence and faked suicides that are murders committed by the two main characters. Real attempts go through but are unsuccessful except for the end where the insane ex of the main character, Veronica, blows himself up. In the back of one scene a girl is clearly sexually assaulted by another student. Veronica is also victim of an attempted rape/ sexual assault for a collage boy. Forced kisses are also seen throughout the movie and the main relationship is very toxic. JD uses Veronicas burnt hand to light his own cigarette. One of the characters suffers from bulimia and a homophobic slur is used at one point. Heavy smoking, drugs and drinking can also be frequently seen. I do love this film though and would definitely recommend.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
3 people found this helpful.
See all 30 parent reviews

What's the Story?

The HEATHERS, three girls with the same name(Shannen Doherty, Lisanne Falk, and Kim Walker), run things from the top of the social food chain at Westburg High. Veronica Sawyer (Winona Ryder), who feels left out of the popular crowd, meets a witty rebel who quickly steals her heart named J.D. (Christian Slater). J.D. supports her hatred of the Heathers and joins her in a vindictive practical joke on the top Heather. But the joke is for keeps when Heather drinks J.D.'s "hangover cure" made of deadly cleaning fluid. A shocked Veronica decides to help J.D. cover up the murder by making it look like suicide. A series of copycat suicides quickly envelops Westburg High. The phenomenon takes on a bizarre life of its own as the student body, faculty, and parents all react to the macabre events in their own clueless and dysfunctional way. Meanwhile, Veronica must admit to herself that J.D. is even more of a monster than the Heathers. Can she foil his plot to administer a student body-wide suicide pact?

Is It Any Good?

The odd and often uncomfortable world of teen peer pressure is no stranger to any of us, and this dark comedy zooms unhesitatingly into this pressure cooker. It dishes up some grotesque stereotypes, and tosses them into a cleverly campy scenario that threatens the lives of the entire student body of Westburg High.

Heathers is a well-acted movie with many memorable lines. It's become a classic of the teenage macabre genre, and with good reason. Older teens and adults will find that there's much dark delight to be found in its silly, biting twist on teen life.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about popularity, suicide, depression, and any number of hot-button teen subjects. High school is a high-anxiety microcosm of what awaits teenagers post-graduation. How do you deal with pressure successfully? How do you learn to make positive decisions?

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