HEATHERS (1988)
4 stars
Arrow Video. Limited Edition 4K UHD. 5th August
Veronica Sawyer (Winona Ryder) is part of the most powerful clique at Westerburg High School – alongside three wealthy, bitchy girls all called Heather. Heather Duke (Shannen Doherty in a part just before her starmaking role in the TV series Beverly Hills, 90210. She sadly passed away recently at the far too early age of 53), Heather McNamara (Lisanne Falk) and their leader Heather Chandler (Kim Walker). However, Veronica begins to question her association with the trio and their bullying ways.
She becomes enamoured with new student Jason ‘J.D.’ Dean (Christian Slater) – who she sees pull a gun on football jocks Kurt (Lance Fenton) and Ram (Patrick Labyorteaux) after they try and intimidate him.
Before long she has fallen in with J.D., who encourages her to take revenge on Chandler after she vows to ruin Veronica’s reputation following an incident at a party. However, she soon begins to realise that the troubled teen she has become involved with, may have a more sinister streak to his character.
An excellent blackly comic cult movie, this may well be more relevant now than it was back then – taken from a spec script by Daniel Waters, who wanted Stanley Kubrick to direct, but had to content himself with debuting helmer Michael Lehmann, who does a good job here.
Slater is outstanding as the teen psycho, nicely matched by Ryder and this is certainly a darker look at high school life than many of the 80s movies released around the same time. The film also lead to a TV series adaptation in 2018 and even a highly successful stage musical!
Steve Kirkham
EXTRAS
4 stars
Many of these extras are lifted through form previous release on Blu Ray
Audio commentary by director Michael Lehmann, producer Denise Di Novi and writer Daniel Waters
Lehmann’s Terms, an interview with director Michael Lehmann (15 mins): talks about getting an education, working at American Zoetrope. Being introduced to scriptwriter Daniel Waters. Student filmmaking and getting both Heathers and Meet the Applegates made.
Pizzicato Croquet, composer David Newman and director Michael Lehmann discuss the music of Heathers (11 mins)
How Very: The Art and Design of Heathers, production designer Jon Hutman, art director Kara Lindstrom and director Michael Lehmann discuss the look of the film (15 mins)
Casting Westerberg High, casting director Julie Selzer discusses the casting process (11 mins)
Poor Little Heather, an interview with actress Lisanne Falk who played Heather McNamara (17 mins)
Scott and Larry and Dan and Heathers, an interview between screenwriting team Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski (Ed Wood, The People vs Larry Flint), and Heathers screenwriter Daniel Waters (38 mins)
The Big Bowie Theory, an appreciation by the writer, actor and comedian John Ross Bowie (35 mins)
Return to Westerberg High, an archival featurette about the film’s writing and production (21 mins)
Swatch Dogs and Diet Coke Heads, an archival featurette with the cast and crew featuring Winona Ryder, Christian Slater and writer Daniel Waters, Denise Di Novi and Michael Lehmann, Shannen Doherty, Lisanne Falk, Editor Norman Hollyn and Director of Photography Francis Kenny(30 mins)
The Beaver Gets a Boner, Michael Lehmann’s student film from 1985 made at the USC School of Cinematic Arts
Original trailers including 30th Anniversary Re-release Trailer
