Alright, fellow tapeheads, let’s rewind to the tail end of the millennium, a time when cynicism was practically a fashion accessory and teen movies were getting a deliciously dark makeover. Nestled amongst the blockbuster rentals and fading B-movie gems on the video store shelf was a shocking pink box, practically vibrating with mean-girl energy. I’m talking about Darren Stein’s 1999 cult confection, Jawbreaker. Pop this one in the VCR, adjust the tracking just so, and prepare for a sugar rush laced with cyanide.
This wasn't your average high school flick; it was Heathers dipped in neon paint and rolled in glitter, and it knew it. The setup is instantly iconic and deliciously twisted: Reagan High's ruling clique – the flawless, fearsome Courtney Shayne (Rose McGowan), the seemingly sweeter Julie (Rebecca Gayheart), and the ditzy Marcie (Julie Benz) – decide to play a birthday prank on their queen bee bestie, Liz Purr (Charlotte Ayanna). The prank involves kidnapping, gagging her with a giant jawbreaker, and stuffing her in the trunk. Hilarious, right? Except, well, the jawbreaker lodges firmly in Liz's throat, and suddenly their immaculate world shatters.
### Pretty Poison Aesthetics
What hits you immediately about Jawbreaker is its look. Forget gritty realism; director Darren Stein, who also penned the script, drenches the screen in hyper-saturated colours. The pristine school hallways, the girls' coordinated outfits, even the murder weapon itself – everything pops with an almost aggressive vibrancy. It's a visual style that feels deliberately artificial, mirroring the plastic perfection of the clique itself. It looked incredible even on a slightly fuzzy CRT screen, didn't it? That heightened reality somehow made the dark undertones even more unsettling. Stein, who was clearly channeling his love for films like Carrie (1976) and the aforementioned Heathers (1988), crafted a world that was both alluring and deeply sinister.
The film reportedly came together on a tight budget – estimates hover around $3.5 million – forcing some creative choices, but the visual confidence punches well above its weight. That slow-motion strut down the hallway, soundtracked by Veruca Salt's "Volcano Girls"? Pure late-90s teen movie gold, elevated by the sheer venom radiating from the core trio (or what's left of it).
### A Star Turn Born of Ice
While the ensemble works, Jawbreaker belongs entirely to Rose McGowan. Her portrayal of Courtney Shayne is legendary. She’s not just mean; she’s a Machiavellian mastermind in designer clothes, manipulating everyone around her with chilling precision and delivering deliciously barbed lines like daggers. McGowan apparently hesitated before taking the role, perhaps sensing how iconic it might become, but she embodies Courtney's narcissistic cruelty so perfectly it’s hard to imagine anyone else. It's a performance that cemented her status as a 90s alternative icon. Rebecca Gayheart provides the film's conscience (initially, anyway) as Julie, the one girl horrified by the cover-up, while Julie Benz nails the vacuous follower archetype before becoming... indisposed.
And then there's Fern Mayo, played with pitch-perfect awkwardness by the always-brilliant Judy Greer in one of her early roles. The scene where Courtney discovers Fern overheard their panicked confession and decides to remake her into the popular, mysterious "Vylette" is the engine that drives the plot's second half. It’s a Faustian bargain steeped in lip gloss and lies, and Greer handles the transformation masterfully. (Retro Fun Fact: Apparently, Charisma Carpenter, beloved by Buffy fans, also auditioned for the role of Courtney Shayne!)
### Cult Following from the Video Aisles
Jawbreaker wasn't exactly a box office smash upon release, barely recouping its modest budget. Critics were divided; some dismissed it as a shallow Heathers knock-off, while others recognized its sharp satire and visual flair. Roger Ebert, notably, gave it a fairly positive review, praising its nasty wit. But like so many films we cherish here at VHS Heaven, its true life began on home video. Finding this tape felt like uncovering a secret – a film too edgy, too weird, too mean for the mainstream multiplex crowd.
The soundtrack alone is a time capsule of late-90s alt-rock cool, featuring tracks from Letters to Cleo, Imperial Teen, and Howie Beno. Plus, who could forget the cameo by punk girl group The Donnas, performing a killer cover of The Ramones' "Rock N Roll High School" at the prom? (Retro Fun Fact: The band playing is actually billed as "The Electrocutes" in the film, an earlier name for The Donnas). That prom scene itself, the inevitable climax where Courtney's web of deceit unravels, is a masterclass in bubblegum tension. The way the truth comes out, weaponizing the era's technology (a recorded confession!), felt cutting-edge back then.
Spoiler Alert! The ending, with Courtney facing social annihilation rather than legal justice, felt unsatisfying to some, but perfectly fit the film's cynical take on high school hierarchies. Popularity is the only currency that matters, and losing it is the ultimate punishment.
Rating: 7/10
The score reflects Jawbreaker's undeniable style, McGowan's iconic performance, and its successful skewering of teen movie tropes. It earns its cult status through sheer audacity and visual panache. While it heavily borrows from Heathers and the plot mechanics can feel a bit convenient, its execution is sharp and memorable. It’s not perfect, but its acid-laced charm is potent.
Final Take: Jawbreaker remains a perfectly preserved artifact of late-90s teen angst filtered through a high-fashion lens. It’s vicious, vibrant, and wickedly funny – a movie that looks like candy but bites back hard. Definitely worth digging out of the archive for a rewatch, preferably with something suitably sugary and maybe slightly dangerous on hand.