NOTE: I tend to not be the peevish with older actors playing teenagers but I just find it funny that they are dressed so maturely that sometimes it feels like did not feel high school at all.
I was shocked how well stylized this film was. I did not expect it especially how lowly rated it was. But I guess, like its portrayal of its actors, it was truly made for a truly older audiences. The vibe of the film has a weird disconnect for something with high school content. It just never felt juvenile. Unlike films of the time that also boast kinkier and darker story like Cruel Intentions and Wild Things, this never plays up the idea that they are high school students. Oddly enough, It feels like it just plays up the psychopathic nature of its characters.
Also, I tend to see that this film is always compared to Heathers. I would like to disagree. Personally, while both cover darker topics, Jawbreaker lacks the commentary and insight that Heathers is famed for. For me, Jawbreakers goes directly for the jugular. It feels closer to Water's Female Trouble, a movie with high school scenes that shows meanness, pure anger and angst. Similarly, both films are anchored by its unique visual style and well paced dialogue.
Speaking of its style, an oddly vintage 70s color scheme plays a huge part of the film visual style. An odd choice for a nineties film but ultimately adds to its dreamlike aesthetics. I believe Mina Le has a great discussion in her youtube channel. A lot of scenes like Fern/Violet transformation scenes that interestingly parallels Frankenstein scenes, or the scene's during Violet downfall was made akin to Lynch's dreamlike style.
In the end, I guess the meanness of the film was just a bit too much for some critics and viewers at the time. It was derided and even the contemporary imdb review was largely negative. But don't believe that. There is something great behind it all. This film has layers tbh.
I was shocked how well stylized this film was. I did not expect it especially how lowly rated it was. But I guess, like its portrayal of its actors, it was truly made for a truly older audiences. The vibe of the film has a weird disconnect for something with high school content. It just never felt juvenile. Unlike films of the time that also boast kinkier and darker story like Cruel Intentions and Wild Things, this never plays up the idea that they are high school students. Oddly enough, It feels like it just plays up the psychopathic nature of its characters.
Also, I tend to see that this film is always compared to Heathers. I would like to disagree. Personally, while both cover darker topics, Jawbreaker lacks the commentary and insight that Heathers is famed for. For me, Jawbreakers goes directly for the jugular. It feels closer to Water's Female Trouble, a movie with high school scenes that shows meanness, pure anger and angst. Similarly, both films are anchored by its unique visual style and well paced dialogue.
Speaking of its style, an oddly vintage 70s color scheme plays a huge part of the film visual style. An odd choice for a nineties film but ultimately adds to its dreamlike aesthetics. I believe Mina Le has a great discussion in her youtube channel. A lot of scenes like Fern/Violet transformation scenes that interestingly parallels Frankenstein scenes, or the scene's during Violet downfall was made akin to Lynch's dreamlike style.
In the end, I guess the meanness of the film was just a bit too much for some critics and viewers at the time. It was derided and even the contemporary imdb review was largely negative. But don't believe that. There is something great behind it all. This film has layers tbh.