Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Heathers Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman August 24, 2024

Anyone who managed to survive their teen years and perhaps especially the fractious world of high school would probably agree their experiences were at least in some ways more like Heathers than the sometimes sweeter ambience of, say, many John Hughes films. Heathers of course is extremely dark at times, with an accruing body count, and if that aspect admittedly may (hopefully?) not be part of most folks' experiences, the underlying subtext of a "society" fraught with patently ridiculous hierarchies and statuses should certainly be relatable to just about everyone. Heathers has had several releases in Region A, including an early release in the nascent days of the Blu-ray format with rather whimsical packaging, as well as a more recent SteelBook (as of the writing of this review, that packaging format hasn't been reviewed here yet). Arrow itself brought this 1080 release out in Region B back in 2018 which featured a 4K restoration of the original camera negative, and is now revisiting the title with a new 4K UHD release. The film may be a bit melancholy now with the recent passing of Shannon Doherty, since this film probably helped to cement her image as a "mean girl".

Those wanting a plot recap and assessment of technical merits and supplements are encouraged to read both of Martin Liebman's reviews (linked below). While the text is largely similar, they have different screenshots, some of which I've attempted to duplicate in this review and our 4K review, so that those interested can do a side by side comparison.

Heathers Blu-ray review

Heathers Blu-ray review

Heathers Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Heathers is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Arrow Video with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1. This is a bit of an unusual situation in that Arrow sent this 1080 version to me in support of their new 4K release, and it came without an insert booklet. I suspect that any insert booklet contained in a first pressing (if indeed there was one) probably offered verbiage extremely similar if not outright identical to the verbiage about the restoration found in the insert booklet accompanying their 4K UHD version:

Heathers has been exclusively restored by Arrow Films and is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1 with mono, stereo and 5.1 sound.

The original 35mm camera negative was scanned in 4K at EFilm, Burbank. The film was restored and graded in SDR, HDR10 and Dolby Vision at Silver Salt Restoration, London. The audio mixes were remastered at Deluxe Audio Services, Los Angeles.

Marty wasn't especially excited by the video component of the old Starz / Anchor Bay release, and even going by the admittedly risky gambit of comparing screenshots, it's easy to see that Arrow's 1080 disc convincingly tops the older Blu-ray in terms of both color timing but perhaps especially with regard to what looks like a much healthier, more organic, accounting of the grain field (the Starz / Anchor Bay version looks positively filtered compared to this one judging by screenshots, though it may not have been). This version offers a somewhat warmer looking timing that arguably favors pink and yellow(ish) tones, while the older Blu-ray has a somewhat blue-green hue. There's no doubt that the Arrow version is brighter, which may help to boost both the palette but also perception of the grain field. The vividness of the palette really can't be overstated (and Arrow's 4K UHD version probably takes that aspect and "turns it up to 11"). There are some slight variances in densities and grain structure at times, both of which are probably more pronounced in Arrow's 4K version due to the increased resolution. Grain can be very heavy, seemingly more so in some of the school set material, where the grain field can be rather thick, crawling up the lightly colored walls of rooms like the cafeteria. There's a kind of very brief but curious anomaly in this 1080 version at around 56:15 with Ryder in her bedroom, where the thickness of the grain field actually tends to make the stripes on the bedspread look like their animated.

Heathers Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Arrow's version of Heathers should delight audiophiles as much as its visuals should please videophiles, since this version offers both the original mono track in LPCM Mono, along with LPCM 2.0 and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 options (the old Starz / Anchor Bay release offered only Dolby TrueHD 5.1 audio). Perhaps surprisingly, the mono track may suffice perfectly well for many listeners, as it's nicely full bodied and very well prioritized. Toggling between the three tracks is kind of an exercise in successive "opening up", though I have to say the biggest difference I heard between the mono and stereo tracks was probably with regard to score. The surround track is not the most consistently immersive thing many will have ever heard, but it has moments of clear engagement of the side and rear channels, and it has a more fulsome low end that tend to support both score and passing effects like the occasional gunshot. Optional English subtitles are available.

Heathers Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Audio Commentary is by director Michael Lehmann, producer Denise Di Novi and writer Daniel Waters, and kind of hilariously (at least given the general tone of the actual film) comes with a warning about strong language.


• Lehmann's Terms (HD; 15:05) is a fun interview with director Michael Lehmann.


• Pizzicato Croquet (HD; ) is a wonderfully named set of interviews featuring composer Thomas Newman and Michael Lehmann discussing the film's music.


• So Very: The Art and Design of Heathers (HD; 15:14) features production designer Jon Hutman, art director Kara Lindstrom and Michael Lehmann.


• Casting Westerberg High (HD; 11:35) offers casting director Julie Selzer.


• Poor Little Heather (HD; 17:41) is an interview with actress Lisanne Falk.


• Scott and Larry and Dan and Heathers (HD; 38:27) features Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski (Ed Wood, The People vs. Larry Flynt), along with Heathers scribe Daniel Waters.


• The Big Bowie Theory (HD; 35:03) is an appreciation by John Ross Bowie.


• Return to Westerburg High (HD; 21:21) is an archival making of piece.


• The Beaver Gets a Boner (HD; 19:53) is a 1985 student film by Michael Lehmann.


• Lethal Attraction (Heathers) Trailer (HD; 2:55)


• 30th Anniversary Re-release Trailer (HD; 1:45)


• Image Gallery (HD)

Heathers Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

As sad as it may be, as long as there's high school, there will probably always be cliques and bullies, which may make Heathers "timeless" in its own way. This release from Arrow offers pretty ravishing video, nice audio options and Arrow's typical assortment of really excellent supplements. Highly recommended.