Heathers

This is cheating a bit. Heathers came out in 1988, but I am sure it didn't reach me until 89 or 90, so I am counting it as another 90s flashback.

I was definitely young when I watched Heathers, because I watched it so many times I memorized the lines. Incongruously, I can recite almost verbatim both Heathers an The Princess Bride .

The dark angst of Christian Slater and Wynona Ryder and the black comedy of the whole high school farce definitely formed part of my identity. I was not the Rah Rah type of high-schooler. I very much identified with Veronica and was anti Heather and pro JD, even if he was psychotic. Cow tipping meat head jocks were the worst of all. I think anyone in high school can find some aspect of this movie to relate to, because it is about the absurdly disgusting cliquishness, popularity contest, insecurity, and secret desperation that riddles the age.

Even today, as a teacher, every time we have a pep rally I think of this movie. Though I keep my cynical thoughts to myself. But, this film is I think, perhaps even more relevant today than it was in the late 80s or early 90s. Issues of bullying, peer pressure, vacuous parent and teacher awareness, and dangerously marginalized anger are still ever present.



Some Quotes:

What is your damage, Heather?

It's one thing to want someone out of your life, but it's another thing to serve them a wake-up cup full of liquid drainer.

Chaos was what killed the dinosaurs, darling.

Lick it up, baby. Lick. It. Up.