The Enigmatic Conclusion of Heathers: Unraveled

Article Key Points

Heathers is a cult classic with a dark comedy and explores the pessimistic side of teenagers, which sets it apart from other 80s teen movies.

Veronica, the protagonist of the movie, finds herself entangled with a group of spiteful girls, despite her disdain for their bullying tendencies. Things take a dark turn when J.D., a rebellious outsider, enters the picture and together with Veronica, they devise a plan to eliminate their fellow classmates. This sets the stage for a disturbing predicament.

Directed by Michael Lehmann, Heathers is widely regarded as a cult classic that stands apart from typical 80s teen movies. Despite incorporating familiar teen movie tropes, such as the mean girl clique, the film distinguishes itself through its dark themes and black comedy. In contrast to John Hughes' feel-good teen comedies of the era, Heathers delves into the pessimistic side of teenage life, creating a shocking and lasting impact.

Although initially met with mixed reviews, Heathers has gained a devoted following, especially in recent years. This newfound popularity can be attributed, in part, to the success of "Heathers: The Musical," a highly regarded adaptation of Lehmann's original dark comedy. The film boasts an exceptional cast, led by Winona Ryder as the protagonist Veronica Sawyer, an outsider who manages to infiltrate the popular girls' clique. Christian Slater also stars as J.D., a rebellious loner who despises the high school cliques. One of Heathers' standout features is its shocking conclusion, which diverges from the upbeat endings commonly found in other 80s movies. So, what exactly is Heathers about, and how does it all end?

What Is Heathers About?

The movie centers around Veronica Sawyer, a high school student who despises the bullying and cliques at Westerburg High. This prestigious school is dominated by a group of mean girls known as the Heathers, led by Heather Chandler. Veronica unexpectedly becomes part of this infamous clique, craving the attention it brings. However, she quickly realizes that she detests their cruel behavior and finds herself particularly repulsed by Heather Chandler. At the same time, Veronica still longs for the approval of her friends, despite her conflicting feelings.

However, the arrival of a new student at Westerburg shakes the foundation of the Heathers. J.D., an outwardly rebellious individual, fearlessly takes on Westerburg's bullies. He and Veronica quickly form a strong bond, but their relationship is put at risk by Veronica's recent inclusion in the Heathers group. However, Heathers distinguishes itself from typical high school movies when Veronica unintentionally poisons Heather Chandler, leading to the demise of Westerburg's notorious leader. Veronica and J.D. then devise a plan to make Heather's death appear as a suicide by creating a phony suicide note for the police to discover.

As the film progresses, it becomes evident that Veronica has become entangled in something far beyond her grasp. It becomes clear that J.D. is a calculated murderer who desires to eliminate several classmates. Ultimately, J.D. believes that Westerburg's toxic influence should be eradicated, setting in motion a series of grotesque events. What initially seemed like an innocent teenage romance quickly transforms into something deeply disturbing, placing Veronica in a troubling predicament.

What Happens at the End of Heathers?

The impact of Heathers on the high-school film genre cannot be overstated. When it was released in the 80s, Heathers shocked audiences with its incorporation of murder, something unheard of in teen movies at the time. By giving the genre a darker twist, Heathers has garnered enduring popularity. However, the most shocking aspect of the entire movie is undoubtedly its twisted ending.

As the movie nears its conclusion, the situation quickly escalates. Veronica had hoped that Heather Chandler's demise would improve the high school atmosphere, but her replacement, Heather Duke, steps in as the new conniving leader of Westerburg. This development leads J.D. to contemplate a world where Westerburg ceases to exist, believing it to be a better place.

Veronica, horrified by J.D.'s actions, decides to end their relationship. Disturbingly, J.D. lies to Veronica's parents, falsely claiming that she was contemplating suicide. To her shock, Veronica discovers that J.D. plans to kill her and make it seem like a suicide. Determined to foil J.D.'s sinister plan, Veronica stages her own death, leading J.D. to believe she is actually dead. Convinced of Veronica's demise, J.D. reveals that he has planted explosives in the school's boiler room and intends to detonate them during the upcoming pep rally, resulting in the deaths of everyone in the high school.

Desperate to stop J.D., Veronica races to the school, hoping to confront him before he can activate the explosives. However, J.D. stubbornly refuses to defuse the bomb, prompting Veronica to shoot him in the hand. With Veronica pointing the gun at him, J.D. finally realizes his game is over, but he still tries to justify his actions to her.

Now, let's face the reality! The only place where diverse social groups can truly coexist is in the realm of heaven.

He endeavors to persuade Veronica that Westerburg must be eradicated, primarily because of the bullying and cruelty inflicted by its cliques, which he considers an abomination. Nonetheless, Veronica remains resolute and maintains her gun pointed at J.D., who persists in his argument.

Veronica retaliates by continuing to fire at J.D., forcing him to halt the bomb's countdown by stabbing its wiring with a knife.

Veronica: You know what I want, babe?

J.D: What?

Veronica: I want cool guys like you out of my life.

Without hesitation, she relentlessly fires at J.D., inflicting severe wounds upon him. Afterward, she exits the boiler room and steps outside. J.D. trails behind, having fastened the bomb to his own body. The countdown recommences, indicating J.D.'s intention to self-destruct. He anticipates Veronica to dissuade him, but she defies his expectations, choosing to observe him silently with a cigarette dangling from her lips.

Veronica, you appear absolutely dreadful.

Veronica returned and took the red scrunchie from Heather Duke, declaring herself the new leader. With her actions, Veronica halted the Heathers' oppressive rule and saved the school from ruin. Although Veronica firmly opposed J.D.'s violent ideology, she did adopt his anti-clique beliefs. Through the removal of the red scrunchie from Heather Duke, Veronica demonstrated her support for a school devoid of cliques and committed to fair treatment for all students. While this conclusion may not fit the typical definition of a happy ending, it reveals Veronica's determination to transform Westerburg and its regressive ways, offering a gratifying yet somber resolution to the movie.

Editor's P/S

Heathers is a movie that stays with you long after you watch it. The dark comedy explores the pessimistic side of teenagers and the lengths they will go to in order to fit in. The movie's iconic ending is one of the most talked-about in film history.

In the end, Veronica is forced to choose between her own survival and the lives of her classmates. She ultimately decides to save herself, leaving the viewer with a sense of unease and uncertainty. The ending of Heathers is a powerful reminder that there is no easy way out of high school and that sometimes the only way to survive is to play the game.