The R-rated masterpiece — a story of four college girls who get sucked into the spring-break version of hell — opens in select theaters March 15. The world will never be the same.

For starters, forget everything you thought you knew about Selena Gomez, Ashley Benson and Vanessa Hudgens. Actually, on second thought, don’t forget. Part of appreciating the absurdity of Spring Breakers is remembering the leading ladies’ squeaky clean beginnings. That way, you can gaze in horror as you watch the trio on its downward spiral of sex, drugs and good-old-fashioned gang violence.

Watching these bright-eyed, family-friendly faces step into yet another twisted world cooked up by acclaimed — and brilliantly deranged — director Harmony Korine, you’ll begin to question if anything you’ve ever believed in is real. And I mean that in the best way possible.

When Vanessa forces James Franco to simulate oral sex with a gun, you’ll wonder what Troy would think of Gabriella now. When you watch Ashley have an underwater threesome with the aforementioned two people, you’ll know “A” is watching from the bushes. And when you see Selena take her first bong hit, you’ll think to yourself, “This isn’t what Barney meant by using your imagination!”

And what can I say about James? His turn as rapper-slash-psychopath Alien might be one of his most memorable yet. Whether he’s screaming about his gun collection, or leading a surprisingly emotional performance of Britney Spears‘ “Everytime” — one of two live Britney tunes in the movie, believe it or not — you’ll find Alien oddly endearing. Terrifying and unsettling, but endearing nonetheless.

I liken Spring Breakers to the Broadway musical Wicked; when I left the theater, I wasn’t sure if I’d been changed for the better, but because I saw it, I had definitely been changed for good.

If you can see through all the drugs, guns and boobies — which are just metaphors for life, really — what’s left is a cautionary tale about growing up too fast, and why riding scooters in bikinis always leads down a dangerous path.

And I’m not the only HollywoodLife.com staffer who had my mind blown by Spring Breakers. Watch Editor-in-Chief Bonnie Fuller chat about the film with Managing Editor Bill Earl below, then chime in with your thoughts! Will you be heading to the theater in the coming weeks?

— Andy Swift

Follow @AndySwift

More Spring Breakers on HollywoodLife.com:

1. Selena Gomez: Critics Love Her Racy ‘Spring Breakers’ Performance
2. ‘Spring Breakers’ Reviews: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
3. ‘Spring Breakers’ Stars Sing Britney Spears At SXSW — Watch