Heathers is back, but Heathers has changed — so much so that Heathers is all but unrecognizable.
Instead of the high school bullies being blonde, A-type personalities with sadistic streaks, we get a genderqueer student who imperiously parades around with a tasseled black parasol; a plus-sized harridan with a perennial scowl and PVC Hot Topic stylings; and a person of color who trudges along with the other two, looking for trouble.
The script has been officially flipped for the upcoming TV series — but to what end? Some of the dialogue — such as “The gays and the Jews are over” — is already hitting people the wrong way.
Also, the trailer makes it look like a white cis couple is going around murdering a bunch of marginalized high schoolers.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
But Shannon Doherty is in it, so there’s that.
What do you think? A cult classic successfully rebooted for a new generation — or a colossal failure in the making that demonstrates why the nostalgia train must be derailed at once?
Sound off in the comments below.
https://youtu.be/2B85lYenaxE
Donston
The only way this could have worked is if the lead character was also queer. Even beyond that, it just looks like trash.
William
IMHO – I tend to a) err on the side of caution and b) agree with commentary on The Mary Sue because we don’t yet live in a post-PC culture (too many people are still marginalized).
That being said – the preview, to me, is a good chance for people to sit back and laugh at themselves. ‘The Jews and Gays are over’ to me was a light hearted jab at the fact that our collective communities have made great strides in the past century (the LGBT2Q+ community especially since the turn of the century). It’s also something I wish was true and something we need to strive towards (us, as a community, being ‘over’ to me means we’re finally equal and don’t face systemic societal discrimination). But I could be way off base without further context.
The optics of a straight white cis couple could be indicative of the world we live in. I read somewhere with 2017 stats, but I can’t find it and I’m loathe to spread misinformation, but at least in 2016 during the campaign period hate crimes went up 30% in the US (for clarity – I live in Canada – and Trumps rhetoric has spread here to an extent, though less so). If they do the show correctly (a large leap of faith I admit) than perhaps the straight white cis couple can act as social commentary as to what is happening in America right now (note: I’m not saying all straight white cis couples are bad, and I am not familiar with stats around who tends to commit hate crimes – so take that sentence with a grain of salt).
I’m just saying, let’s at least give it a chance to offer social commentary before we condemn it.
Please take this commentary and digest it as the opinion of a gay white cis dude from Canada (i.e. a point of privilege).
Danny595
Anyone who uses “LGBT2Q+” in a non-ironic way deserves to be marginalized.
DCguy
Gee, how risky,
All of the monsters are heavy kids, racial minorities, and lgbt, and the saviors just trying to set things right are a white straight couple.
Gee Paramont, all you needed to add in was a, African American lesbian softball player bullying all of her rich blond team mates and it would have been complete.
Is this a joke?
GoodGrief
Thank god for this reboot! Without it, where would we ever get a depiction of the flamboyant gay sidekick/secondary character? Oh…wait…
S.anderson
Usually, the trailer looks better than a new show actually turns out to be. And that was one ugly trailer! Obviously, they’re trying to appeal to fans of “so bad it’s good” campy, trashy comedy. Taking a shot at delivering revenge fantasies for vindictive transpeople.
Ya know what would make a great re-boot of Heathers? Not a re-write where the fat & trans kids get even by being the new bullies and clique queens, but one where the original Heathers stereotypes start out on top, domineering and dissing, and over the course of the show, struggle to keep everyone in line and afraid of them, and get progressively taken down until they’re crushed out of existence.
That’s a revenge fantasy I’d like to see. Where everyone grows a spine and shuts bad people down, instead of some of the minorities taking a turn persecuting the others.
Donston
The disappointing thing is that a sardonic, “queer” update of Heathers could have been really cool and actually makes sense in these times. But instead, this is adapted by someone who isn’t a fan of the movie (apparently they hadn’t even seen the movie until they were contacted to adapt the TV show) and who has no credentials. And for some reason the lead character is still a cis, pretty white girl, who probably won’t be as cool as Ryder’s character. The whole thing looks like a conceptual misfire. How much ironic humor can they really get out of this concept? But it also just looks cheesy, like “Glee” turned inside out. There should be nothing about a remake of Heathers that feels like Glee.
Danny595
By cis, you mean the 99.7% of the population that isn’t delusional. If that’s the case, then the main character’s being “cis” is prolly the only good thing about this movie.
Danny595
Why would I want to see a movie about a fat chick and a mentally ill guy who doesn’t know if he’s a man or a woman? I wasn’t alive when the original movie was made, and I never saw it, but I understand it was a comedy about pretty girls, not obese weirdos and “genderqueer” mental cases.
jeff1370
When they remake “trolls”, be sure to submit your bio.
Donston
Yawn, Danny. It’s all just a yawn from you now. .
ladycookie
Oh Danny595, the laziest and most repetitive of trolls. I see you made it up off the kitchen floor.
Michael Wenas
All these mofos say shit like “Ooo, this is a troll” What kind of weak ass shit are y’all trying to push here? Yes, he is as a matter of fact a troll, but throwing labels ain’t shade; it’s a form of thought dysfunctionalism. Really, y’all make his argument even stronger. So sad. ?
Jack Meoff
Burn it quickly it needs to die.
SiamSam
Burn it slowly. It needs to suffer.
cmcoleman457
SiamSam That is the best response I have heard.
irbaboon
the red head is cute
SpireaX
If Queerty is accurate in its description of the series, why even call it a f’n “reboot?”
“Mean Girls” was already a reboot of the movie “Heathers.”
dustychiffon
Everyone just calm the hell down!
This looks like it might have funny moments, but unfortunately also looks laced with that “old Hollywood players” taking over a cult hit and trying to make it “edgy” crap. It’s the bubble man!
dustychiffon
Danny595: you’re funny, but your “shock till we drop” stuff is as tired as this Heathers reboot. Be nice, or go back to AOL where you came from.