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Plot Summary

Discover the intricate plot of Jawbreaker (1999). From unexpected twists to emotional highs and lows, this detailed summary breaks down every moment to give you a deeper understanding of the film’s story.


In the opening scene, we meet four high school girls who possess both beauty and charisma, aptly dubbed the “Flawless Four.” These girls reign as the most popular at Reagan High School in Southern California. The group comprises Courtney Shayne (Rose McGowan), known as the “Satan-in-heels”; Marcie Fox (Julie Benz), affectionately called ‘Foxy’; Julie Freeman (Rebecca Gayheart); and Elizabeth Purr (played by Charlotte Ayanna), renowned as the “Princess Di of Reagan High.” Among them, only Elizabeth is genuinely kind-hearted, cherished by all. Unfortunately, Julie’s popularity seems guaranteed thanks to her striking appearance and her tight-knit friendship with Elizabeth. Meanwhile, the cold-hearted queen bee Courtney and her ditzy companion Marcie instill fear to command respect.

On the morning of Elizabeth’s seventeenth birthday, the trio—Courtney, Marcie, and Julie—play a cruel prank: they fake kidnapping her. Their plan involves gagging her with a jawbreaker candyball and binding her with ropes before stuffing her into the trunk of a car. As they drive off, their intention is to take the helpless girl out for pancakes. However, upon opening the trunk later, they are met with a horrifying scene: Liz has tragically choked to death, the jawbreaker having obstructed her airway.

In a state of shock and horror, Julie suggests going to the police, but the manipulative Courtney forbids it. Instead, she impersonates Liz’s mother and informs the school that Liz is too ill to attend. Continuously trying to cover their tracks, Courtney, Marcie, and Julie return to school, acting as if nothing has happened. It isn’t long before school outcast Fern Mayo (portrayed by Judy Greer) is sent by the principal to deliver Liz’s homework. In a shocking twist, she discovers the girls’ dark secret when she stumbles upon Liz’s disfigured body. Consumed by envy, Courtney concocts a narrative, claiming Liz fell victim to a rapist, aiming to tarnish her angelic reputation and portray her as a rebellious girl instead.

Fern, who idolized Liz, is horrified but quickly captured by the notorious girls. To keep Fern quiet, Courtney offers her a spot in their clique, proclaiming that she will replace Liz. Under Courtney and Marcie’s influence, Fern undergoes a dramatic transformation, shifting from the awkward outcast to the stunning new girl Vylette. As the new façade emerges, Julie grapples with immense guilt, distancing herself from her peers, only to face bullying from her former friends and becoming a target of their cruelty. The only comfort she finds is in her relationship with her drama-loving boyfriend, Zack.

Meanwhile, Detective Vera Cruz (played by Pam Grier) begins to unravel the mystery behind Liz’s untimely death after her parents return from a trip. The principal, Ms. Sherwood (Carol Kane), cooperates to assist in the investigation, but Courtney, Marcie, and Julie maintain a united front, denying any involvement. Fern/Vylette’s peculiar manner raises eyebrows, yet without substantial evidence, Cruz reluctantly allows her to remain at large.

As Vylette’s popularity skyrockets, Julie watches in dismay as Courtney weaves a tangled web of lies to evade responsibility for Liz’s murder and hold onto her social standing. To her disgust, Julie learns from Detective Cruz that Courtney had the audacity to engage in sexual acts with a stranger in Liz’s bed, fabricating an even worse cover-up to suggest Liz had been raped.

Driven by an overwhelming sense of competition, Vylette revels in her fame, overshadowing even Courtney. Aware she has unleashed a monster, Courtney threatens to blow Vylette’s cover, only for Vylette to counter by promising to reveal the truth about Liz’s demise if threatened. Tempers flare when Courtney and Marcie distribute enlarged yearbook photos of Fern with the question “Who is Vylette?” plastered across them, humiliating Fern in front of the entire student body.

Feeling a sense of pity for Fern, Julie reconciles with her and sifts through Liz’s belongings that she was given posthumously. During her search, she finds the recording card that inadvertently captured Courtney’s confession, “I killed Liz! I killed the teen dream! Deal with it!” This discovery ignites a daring plan that involves Julie, Fern, and Zack rushing to the senior prom to unveil the truth.

As Courtney and her jock boyfriend Dane Sanders (Ethan Erickson) are crowned Prom King and Queen, Zack stealthily broadcasts the incriminating confession over the sound system during Courtney’s acceptance speech. As shockwaves ripple through the crowd, Dane quickly recoils from Courtney in horror, prompting Marcie to flee in embarrassment. Facing the fallout of her actions, Courtney attempts to escape the chaos, only to be met with the furious student body hurling corsages at her while labeling her a murderer. At the culmination of the event, Julie stands ready at the exit, capturing the moment with a photo of Courtney’s anguished expression, ensuring that the nightmare of her reign is forever immortalized.

Timeline

Track the key events of Jawbreaker (1999) with a comprehensive timeline. Perfect for understanding the sequence of major plot points, this feature offers clarity on how the story unfolds.


Introduction of the Flawless Four

In the opening scene, we meet the 'Flawless Four,' a group of four gorgeous and charismatic girls at Reagan High School. Their names are Courtney Shayne, Marcie Fox, Julie Freeman, and Elizabeth Purr, each known for their unique personalities, with Elizabeth being the kind-hearted member of the group.

Reagan High School, Southern California

Elizabeth's Birthday Prank

On the morning of Elizabeth's seventeenth birthday, her friends, led by Courtney, execute a cruel prank by fake-kidnapping her. They blindfold and gag her with a jawbreaker candyball, intending to drive her out for pancakes, unaware of the tragic outcome awaiting them.

Tragic Accident

The prank takes a horrifying turn when the girls realize that Elizabeth has choked to death in the trunk of the car due to the jawbreaker. Overwhelmed with shock, they are faced with the brutal reality of their actions and must decide how to handle the situation.

Covering Up the Truth

Instead of reporting the accident to the police, Courtney manipulates the situation by pretending to be Liz's mother and declaring her too ill to attend school. The girls return to school, attempting to act as if nothing has happened, showcasing their desperation to conceal their involvement.

Reagan High School

Fern Discovers the Secret

Fern Mayo, the school outcast, is sent to deliver Elizabeth's homework and stumbles upon the girls' dark secret. In a shocking realization, she discovers Liz's disfigured body, which puts her at risk of being silenced by Courtney and her friends.

Courtney's Manipulation

Courtney, eager to manipulate the narrative, spreads false rumors suggesting that Elizabeth was a victim of a rapist. This sham paints Liz, who was beloved and kind-hearted, as someone unseemly, displaying Courtney's ruthless need to protect her own reputation.

Fern's Transformation

To keep Fern quiet about the grim truth, Courtney invites her to join their clique, promising a new beginning. Under the influence of Courtney and Marcie, Fern undergoes a dramatic makeover and adopts the name Vylette, transforming from an outcast to a social star.

Julie's Guilt

As Vylette gains popularity, Julie begins to feel immense guilt for her role in Liz's death. Isolated from her former friends, who now bully her, Julie's despair deepens, and she finds solace only in her relationship with her boyfriend, Zack.

The Investigation Begins

Detective Vera Cruz starts investigating Elizabeth's death upon her parents' return, with the principal cooperating. However, Courtney and the others maintain their facade, leaving Cruz to question the sudden rise of Vylette without any solid evidence.

Courtney's Cunning Deceptions

In a shocking turn of events, Julie learns from Detective Cruz about Courtney's further lies, including her outlandish claims that Elizabeth engaged in reckless behavior. Courtney continues to lie, desperate to maintain control and her social prestige amidst the chaos.

Fern's Popularity Grows

As Vylette's popularity surges, Julie watches with increasing discomfort as Courtney’s web of lies deepens. Courtney feels threatened by Vylette's newfound fame, leading her to resort to intimidation tactics to keep control over the situation.

Reagan High School

The Prom Plan

Feeling guilt for her past actions, Julie begins to devise a plan to expose the truth about Liz's death. Together with Fern, now Vylette, and Zack, she aims to reveal Courtney's confession and bring justice to the situation during the senior prom.

Senior Prom

Dramatic Reveal at Prom

During the prom ceremony, as Courtney and her boyfriend are crowned King and Queen, Zack broadcasts the shocking recorded confession. The crowd is left in stunned disbelief as Courtney is exposed as the instigator of Liz's death, turning the event into chaos.

Senior Prom

Confrontation and Fallout

Following the confession, the student body turns against Courtney, hurling accusations and corsages at her, making her understand the severe consequences of her actions. Amidst the emotional turmoil, Julie captures the moment, sealing Courtney's anguish for all to remember.

Senior Prom

End of the Flawless Four

The event culminates in the disbandment of the once untouchable 'Flawless Four,' with their fall from grace serving as a grim reminder of the price of deception. The experience has lasting impacts on all involved, marking a significant turning point in their lives.

Characters

Meet the characters that bring Jawbreaker (1999) to life. Dive into detailed profiles of the cast and their roles, exploring their motivations, relationships, and arcs within the story.


Courtney Shayne (Rose McGowan)

Courtney is the cunning and manipulative leader of the 'Flawless Four,' known for her ruthless tactics to maintain her popular status. Despite her beauty, she reveals a cold-hearted nature, willing to go to any lengths—even murder—to protect her facade and dominance in the social hierarchy.

👑 Queen Bee 😈 Manipulation 🎭 Social Climber

Marcie Fox (Julie Benz)

Marcie is the ditzy sidekick to Courtney, often acting without thinking. Despite her apparent loyalty, she is easily swayed and follows Courtney's lead, blinded by the desire to fit in and be accepted by the popular crowd.

👭 Sidekick 🌸 Naive 🌪️ Influence

Julie Freeman (Rebecca Gayheart)

Julie begins as complicit in the group's schemes but is later overtaken by guilt and a longing for redemption after Liz's tragic death. Struggling with her conscience, she embodies the conflict between loyalty to friends and the moral implications of their actions.

😔 Guilt 🌧️ Conflict 🦋 Redemption

Fern Mayo

Fern starts as an outcast who idolizes Liz and represents the potential for transformation under peer pressure. Her journey from awkward outsider to a new persona, Vylette, highlights the struggles faced by individuals when confronting their self-worth and society's expectations.

🌱 Transformation 💔 Isolation 🎭 Identity

Detective Vera Cruz

Detective Cruz plays a pivotal role in unraveling the mystery behind Liz's death. She embodies the relentless pursuit of truth, showcasing the darker side of high school influences and the tragic consequences of the girls’ actions.

🕵️‍♂️ Investigation ⚖️ Justice 🔍 Truth-Seeker

Setting

Uncover the settings of Jawbreaker (1999), from iconic locations to the time period that shapes its world. See how these elements add depth and context to the movie’s narrative.


Time period

The movie is set in contemporary times, capturing the essence of teenage culture during the late 1990s. It vividly illustrates the issues of peer pressure, social media's influence, and the often dark undercurrents of high school friendships.

Location

Reagan High School, Southern California

Reagan High School serves as the primary setting for the movie, portraying the intense social dynamics of high school life filled with popularity contests and brutal hierarchies. Located in Southern California, it reflects the glitzy yet superficial lifestyle of the region, where beauty and status hold significant power among adolescents.

🏫 School 🌞 Southern California

Themes

Explore the core themes of Jawbreaker (1999). From its commentary on social issues to its emotional undertones, delve into the deeper messages woven into the film’s story.


🕵️‍♀️

Crime & Consequences

The narrative delves into the consequences of a senseless crime committed for the sake of popularity. It highlights how the characters navigate guilt, deception, and the quest for social standing while being entangled in a web of lies and murder.

👑

Power Dynamics

The film showcases the cutthroat nature of social hierarchies in high school, where beauty and charisma reign supreme. It examines how friendships can turn toxic as characters vie for influence and control within their social circles.

💔

Betrayal

Betrayal is a core theme as characters manipulate and deceive one another to maintain their status. Julie's moral struggle and eventual alliance with Fern represent the complexities of trust and loyalty under extreme pressure.

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