Heavenly Creatures (1994)

Director:

Peter Jackson

Writers:

Fran Walsh (screenplay) and
Peter Jackson (screenplay)

Release Date:

14 October 1994 (New Zealand)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

The true story of a crime that shocked a nation.

Plot:

Two girls have an intense fantasy life; their parents, concerned the fantasy is too intense, separate them, and the girls take revenge.

Plot Keywords:

Visceral | Orson Welles | Lesbian Kiss | Female Nudity | Underage Drinking

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 16 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Melanie Lynskey	...	Pauline
Kate Winslet	...	Juliet
Sarah Peirse	...	Honora
Diana Kent	...	Hilda
Clive Merrison	...	Henry
Simon O'Connor	...	Herbert
Jed Brophy	...	John / Nicholas
Peter Elliott	...	Bill Perry
Gilbert Goldie	...	Dr. Bennett
Geoffrey Heath	...	Rev. Norris
Kirsti Ferry	...	Wendy
Ben Skjellerup	...	Jonathan
Darien Takle	...	Miss Stewart
Elizabeth Moody	...	Miss Waller
Liz Mullane	...	Mrs. Collins

Also Known As:

Heavenly Creatures: The Uncut Version (USA) (longer version)
Himmlische Kreaturen (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and sexual content. (uncut version)

Runtime:

99 min | USA:108 min (uncut version)

Country:

UK | Germany | New Zealand

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Singapore:R21 | South Korea:(Banned) (original rating) | Finland:K-15 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | South Korea:18 (re-rating) | Iceland:14 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Canada:18A | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Chile:18 | Denmark:16 | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:III | Ireland:18 | Mexico:C | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/16 (video premiere) | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Canterbury, New Zealand

Company:

Fontana Productions

Trivia:

Director Cameo: [Peter Jackson]homeless man kissed by Juliet outside the theater.

Goofs:

Continuity: The movement of the fish, when Herbert Rieper is singing along to 'Mario Lanza' .

Quotes:

[first lines]
[Director Peter Jackson opens with the scene that should, logically, end the film: that is, the moments immediately following the murder. The girls Juliet and Pauline run screaming up the hill-path to the tea-house, sobbing and covered in blood. The scene is intercut with b&w visions of the two running across a ship deck to meet Dr. and Mrs. Hulme, whom they both refer to as their mother, as the first three exclamations of "Mummy!" demonstrate]
Juliet Hulme: Mummy!
Pauline Parker: Mummy!
Juliet Hulme: Mummmmy!
[the scene changes from the ship to the hilltop tea-house. The girls are screaming hysterically as the tea-house woman runs out to see what the noise is all about]
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Magic of 'Finding Neverland' (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

You'll Never Walk Alone

Shocking ... Riveting ... Unforgettable

Heavenly Creatures, based on a true story, is written, directed and produced by Peter Jackson of Lord of the Rings fame. This film captivates, catching you off guard.

Jackson sets the audience up in the beginning by focusing on the tranquil, predictable world of 1950s Christchurch, New Zealand. Before long, the peaceful world is exposed for what it is, repressed.

Two teenage girls, Juliet and Pauline, befriend each other at a private girl's school. They find out they have a lot in common. Sharing a world of fantasy and make believe, leads to an insane reversal. Their fantasy world becomes their reality.

Once they cross that line, their otherwise superficial, conventional world is turned upside down. All the repressed dysfunction surfaces. Ironically, Juliet's mother is a psychotherapist who doesn't see her daughter's neurosis becoming a psychosis. Eventually, Pauline and Juliet go off the deep end, drowning in their make believe world. By the end of the film, they do the unthinkable.

Kate Winslet is superb as Juliet. The rest of the cast is outstanding. Peter Jackson does a masterful job of capturing the essence of 1950s religious repression in New Zealand. It could be England or American in the 1950s. Heavenly Creatures will appeal to anyone who enjoys psychological twists and turns.