One of my all-time favorite things about TikTok is how incredibly niche the app can be. Whether you’re looking for skincare tips, lighthearted comedy, or highly specific pop culture references, TikTok has you covered. Now, my musical theater-loving heart is getting its fix thanks to the “Veronica, Open The Door” TikTok trend, inspired by the cult classic (and incredibly niche) film, Heathers. The 1989 dark comedy follows four teenage girls — three of whom are named “Heather” — whose lives are disrupted by a new student (JD) who’s determined to take down the popular kids. The original movie features the iconic Winona Ryder and Christian Slater as the leads, Heather and JD. The story was eventually adapted into a stage musical that ran Off-Broadway and Off-West End before transferring to West End.
All artistic preferences aside, Heathers is a production that I firmly believe nobody will ever stop talking about. The plot is dark, delightful, and off-putting all at once, the script is legendary, and a quick scroll online will show you that fans worldwide still regard the OG film as a masterpiece. In the current “Veronica, Open The Door” TikTok trend, creators use a soundbite from the song “Meant To Be Yours” performed by Jamie Muscato, who played an unhinged JD in the West End production of Heathers. The viral trend is quickly gaining traction, and much like the musical it’s based on, I promise you won’t be able to look away.
Where did the “Veronica, Open The Door” TikTok trend originate?
FYI: Heathers deals with some pretty intense subject matter but in an eccentric, ‘80s way. The trending audio comes from an emotionally-charged scene in which JD is begging Heather to open the door — and without giving away major spoilers, let’s just say she isn’t budging. At this point in the story, JD is losing his mind due to a series of unfortunate (Read: deadly) events, and he isn’t having Heather’s stubbornness.
During the song, JD sings “Veronica, open the door, please…Veronica, open the door!” He fluctuates between yelling angrily and genuinely pleading for Veronica to let him inside, which makes for an intense scene that has clearly caught the attention of many TikTokers.
creators can’t resist the temptation to “open the door.”
Since the Heathers sound started trending, TikTokers have taken to the app to express their seemingly taboo attraction toward JD’s character (and Muscato’s dreamy singing voice). While some creators are unapologetic about how much they love the chaotic dynamic between Heather and JD — implying in some cases that they’d 100% “open the door,” others call out the relationship’s problematic nature. JD is totally unhinged and definitely dangerous, leading some TikTokers to discuss why people fall for “morally-gray” villain types. Creators have even compared JD to complex villains like Kylo Ren and Anakin Skywalker from Star Wars and Enzo St. John from Vampire Diaries; creator @julianauribbe’s video shows an image of each character and says “Sing along if you would open the door for them.”
TikTokers are also re-creating the Heathers scene in a lighthearted way.
While the audio has been used in serious ways, some creators are taking a more comical approach to using the Heathers audio. One video by @paleblondegirl says, “When your best friend is into toxic people and you have to stop her from opening the door” followed by her physically blocking the doorway. Creator @valerieroselohman’s version says, “POV Heathers, but it’s Disney Channel” followed by a spot-on impersonation of every Disney protagonist, ever. TikToker @_thepaigepage recreates the trend “Jennifer Aniston” style, and @morgandrinkscoffee uses the “open the door” soundbite to poke fun at customers trying to enter their coffee shop at 5 AM. In another clever version by @pixelplayhouse, the Heathers song is recreated — but as if JD had gotten a therapist instead of taking out his anger on Veronica.
The trending song from Heathers will be one to watch.
Between the popularity of complex romance tropes on #BookTok and the ongoing cultural discourse about glamorizing problematic villains, it’s clear that the Heathers audio has tapped into an existing conversation about the dark side of dating and relationships. And even though the “Veronica, Open The Door” TikTok trend is just starting to ramp up, I predict it’ll be a popular sound on your FYP very soon — perhaps with a variety of creative and interesting versions. Will the viral trend lead to more conversations about complex relationship dynamics, or will it remain a lighthearted trend that celebrates Heathers’ ridiculousness in 2022? We’ll have to wait and see.