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:

Friend | 1950s | Writing | Fantasy Life | Love

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 16 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Melanie Lynskey	...	Pauline Parker
Kate Winslet	...	Juliet Hulme
Sarah Peirse	...	Honora Parker Rieper
Diana Kent	...	Hilda Hulme
Clive Merrison	...	Dr. Henry Hulme
Simon O'Connor	...	Herbert Rieper
Jed Brophy	...	John / Nicholas
Peter Elliott	...	Bill Perry
Gilbert Goldie	...	Dr. Bennett
Geoffrey Heath	...	Rev. Norris
Kirsti Ferry	...	Wendy
Ben Skjellerup	...	Jonathan Hulme
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 a chilling murder and some sexuality.; 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:

Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Singapore:R21 | South Korea:18 (re-rating) | South Korea:(Banned) (original rating) | Finland:K-15 | New Zealand:PG | 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:

Time listed this film as one of their 10 best films of 1994.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When John goes to Pauline's bedroom in the middle of the night, the camera's shadow can be seen to the left of his.

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:

Referenced in It's in the Water (1997)

Soundtrack:

Be My Love

Not just for teens, this is...well...awesome...

I understand why teenage girls would like this movie--the thrilling rush of new found deep friendship tied together with nascent sexuality and all that comes with it...the defying of the confines of the world around them...the incredible power of unfettered creativity and self-delusional belief...

What's amazing is that a jaded thirty-something man like myself would consider it to be his favorite film of all time. Peter Jackson shows a deftness in handling interpersonal characterizations and blending in amazing special effects in a way that seems so natural...so fluid...that you while you're awed by what you see, you're not so aware of the process that you're distracted. The oh-so-1993 effect of "morphing" is used better here than any other film (save, perhaps, Terminator 2--but in that movie, the morphing WAS the film...when here, it is merely one element.)

The direction is exemplary. The cinematography is awe inspiring. The script is sharp. The acting...down the line...is superb. Melanie Lynskey delivers a brave performance--giddy, childish, frightening, sexual, clouded... She's everything Christina Ricci pretends to be. Kate Winslet--hyper-bright and wonderful...her performance here reminds you that her "Titanic" performance was "sunk" (sorry!) by the extremely poor dialogue she was given. Her character's overly cheerful demeanor is a mask that covers her disappointment in her parents--but it's extended so far that it no longer seems like a mask...it seems to be a force of nature that drags Lynskey's Pauline along for a dangerous ride...a ride that Winslet's Juliet is in no position to control. There are crisp performances from all of the supporting cast as well.

Jackson should be listed with Gilliam and even Lynch when it comes to directors who can achieve a glorious, if dark, vision. The fact that Jackson's movies (save for "Meet the Feebles") are mainstream accessible--in ways that Lynch, especially, could barely consider (although "The Frighteners" was painfully overlooked by the US market)--makes me wish that he'd try his hand at more mainstream material.

Imagine what a Peter Jackson "Titanic" would have been like...and compare that to what a James Cameron "Heavenly Creatures" would have been like and you get my point.