High school angst films were the big thing back in the day.  They still hold some power in today’s world.  Some of the most memorable are films like CLUELESS (1995), JAWBREAKER (1999), or MEAN GIRLS (2004).  One of the biggest cult films of them all, HEATHERS, came out in 1989.  With its social dystopia along with its dreamlike results took Generation X by storm.  Though a failure at the box office, the movie became a success on video tape.

Veronica (Winona Ryder) goes to Westerburg High School in Sherwood, Ohio.  When she is accepted into the popular clique Heathers lead by Heather Chandler (Kim Walker), she thinks she’s finally find her identity.  When she discovers that being a Heather isn’t all what its was built up to, she finds solace in J.D. Dean (Christian Slater), an outsider rebel who gives her hope.   Soon the two of them start going down a dark path that leads to worse things than high school politics.

The movie was directed by Michael Lehmann and written by Daniel Waters.  Besides Christian Slater and Winona Ryder, the film co-stars Shannen Doherty, Kim Waters, and Lisanne Falk.  The movie helped jettison Slater, Ryder, and Doherty to stardom, and laid out the way future high school films would be made.  Dark Discussions takes a look at this Patreon pick and gives their thoughts on this cult classic.