Way ahead of its time, Heathers cemented itself as a teen classic, even though at the time it only did moderately well at the box office. The film has now scored itself a TV reboot, courtesy of Stan. But is it any good?
WHO magazine TV experts Gavin Scott and Clare Rigden aren’t entirely convinced, but they do think anyone obsessed with the film growing up will likely be intrigued with the series’ new premise. You can listen to their review of Heathers in this week's episode of TV podcast Binge List on iTunes http://po.st/1vN2h7 or Google Podcasts: http://po.st/yUocbZ or Spotify http://po.st/7Zn8WQ.
“It’s just as dark, and covers a lot of the same territory,” says Gavin. “But there are some differences when it comes to the Heathers themselves.”
As Gavin explains, this version isn’t a sequel, more a do-over. And the nods to the film come thick and fast, even if things are slightly different at Westerburg High this time.
Although the three central Heathers still rule the school (and have taken Veronica under their wing), this time Heather Chandler (Melanie Field) is a “body-positive,” “woke” high-schooler, who patrols the school with a PC iron fist – slut-shamers, fat-shamers and cultural appropriators beware! Her offsiders are faux-lesbian Heather McNamara (Jasmine Mathews) and “gender-queer” Heather Duke (Brendan Scannell).
“It felt a bit forced,” says Gavin. “Like, ‘We have got to get that dialogue in.’ It felt a little bit like it was trying too hard to channel the original and didn’t have enough of its own story to tell.”
Fans of the movie will enjoy picking up on all the references – from slabs of dialogue to items in vending machines – peppered throughout. “This show is like a love letter to the original movie,” showrunner Jason Micallef told E! Online. “There’s so many little Easter eggs in each episode, even little things hidden in the set.”
But both Gavin and Clare say they’re not convinced that audiences will have the same connection with this version, in part because of the lack of chemistry between this series’ two main stars Veronica (played by Grace Victoria Cox) and JD (James Scully).
“The guy they have got playing JD and the girl they have got playing Veronica - they are just not that charismatic,” Clare says.
The new Heathers was delayed following the Valentine’s Day shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida. Although rescheduled, its US producers ultimately decided not to air a show that dealt with high-school bloodshed. It will air internationally, including in Australia, where it is available on Stan now.