Heathers: My Teen Angst Throwback (Is it REALLY okay to show my kid?)

Okay, so I just rewatched Heathers (1988) last night, and whoa, talk about a throwback to my own angsty teen years! Winona Ryder is just chef's kiss as Veronica, and Christian Slater as J.D....well, let's just say he was the definition of 'bad boy' back then. For those who haven't seen it, it's basically about a girl who's kind of sucked into the popular crowd, but then she meets this seriously messed-up guy, and they start 'accidentally' killing off the popular kids. Super dark, right? Honestly, I forgot just how dark it was. The croquet scene? Still hilarious in a twisted way, but the whole thing with them faking Heather Chandler's suicide…yikes. And the ending? Definitely not the feel-good movie of the year! I remember thinking it was SO edgy and cool when I was younger. I mean, the darkly comedic writing is still sharp as ever ("Greetings and salutations"? Iconic!), and the social commentary about high school cliques is pretty spot-on. But here's the question: would I let my teen watch it? Hmm. It's a tough call. On the one hand, it is a satire, and it does touch on some real issues like bullying and the pressure to conform. On the other hand...murder, suicide, and a whole lotta nihilism! I guess it depends on the kid, right? And maybe a LOT of discussion afterward. I think I'd rather watch something a little less...explosive (literally!) with my youngest. Anyone else have thoughts on this one? Definitely a conversation starter, even all these years later. Oh, and quick side note -- who directed it? I always forget! I'm gonna look it up right now because it's bothering me that I can't remember... okay, Michael Lehmann! There you go. My brain is working today... mostly.