Heathers
1989, R, 102 min.
D: Michael Lehmann; with Winona Ryder, Christian Slater.

Director Michael Lehmann (The Truth About Cats and Dogs, Hudson Hawk) made a stunning debut with this sharp satire of teen cliques. Winona Ryder and Christian Slater also made striking impressions, she as the teen queen who’s not comfortable with the sniping and peer pressure imposed by her group of friends and he as the motorcycle-riding bad boy who encourages her rebellioius ideas. Soon people begin getting murdered, and this humorous black comedy takes a decidedly morbid and downbeat tone.

This article appears in August 4 • 2000.

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

SUPPORT US

Marjorie Baumgarten is a film critic and contributing writer at The Austin Chronicle, where she has worked in many capacities since the paper's founding in 1981. She served as the Chronicle's Film Reviews editor for 25 years.