HEATHERS: The Cult Classic That Killed the Teen Movie | Cinema Shock Roulette

2023-11-21

What if John Hughes movies did murder? In this Roulette episode, we dig into Michael Lehmann’s pitch-black 1989 teen satire, HEATHERS — a film that skewered high school cliques, weaponized sarcasm, and launched a thousand “Dear Diary” imitators. We’ll talk about how Daniel Waters’ script turned every studio exec pale, how Winona Ryder risked her rising career to play Veronica, and how a young Christian Slater channeled Jack Nicholson into a performance that’s somehow both magnetic and terrifying. From the film’s rocky road to production to its legacy as a cult classic, this is the story behind the original teenage time bomb.

What if John Hughes movies did murder?

In this Roulette episode, we dig into Michael Lehmann’s pitch-black 1989 teen satire, HEATHERS — a film that skewered high school cliques, weaponized sarcasm, and launched a thousand “Dear Diary” imitators. We’ll talk about how Daniel Waters’ script turned every studio exec pale, how Winona Ryder risked her rising career to play Veronica, and how a young Christian Slater channeled Jack Nicholson into a performance that’s somehow both magnetic and terrifying.

From the film’s rocky road to production to its legacy as a cult classic, this is the story behind the original teenage time bomb.

Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy.

This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne & Justin Bishop.

For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net

Comments (3)