Heavenly Creatures (1994)

Taglines:

The true story of a crime that shocked a nation. See more »

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for a chilling murder and some sexuality See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »

Country:

New Zealand | Germany

Language:

English | French

Release Date:

14 October 1994 (New Zealand) See more »

Also Known As:

Heavenly Creatures: The Uncut Version See more »

Filming Locations:

Canterbury, New Zealand See more »

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$31,592 (USA) (November 1994)

Gross:

$3,049,135 (USA)

Production Co:

WingNut Films, New Zealand Film Commission, Fontana Productions See more »

Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Runtime:

99 min  | USA: 108 min (uncut version)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Trivia

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

Goofs

Continuity: In the final reel, Honora, Juliet and Pauline are seen walking up from the bus terminus near Victoria Park and Honora elects to have a cup of tea before going into the park. When they pass the entrance to the park, the camera follows them as they turn to enter the Victoria Park Tea Rooms, to their right. They pass a small sign standing on the ground, advertising Ice Cream, as they start up the stairs to the tea rooms. In the first reel, at the close of the Prologue, Mrs Ritchie is seen running down the steps leading to the Tea Rooms. When she reaches the bottom of the steps there is no Ice Cream sign. See more »

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]
[...]
See more »

Crazy Credits

Preceding the end credits: "In the hours following Honora's murder, a police search of the Rieper house unearthed Pauline's diaries. This resulted in her immediate arrest for the murder of her mother. Juliet was arrested and charged with murder the following day. After Pauline's
arrest it was discovered that Honora and Herbert Rieper had never
married. Pauline was therefore charged under her mother's maiden name of
Parker. In August 1954, a plea of insanity was rejected by the jury in
the Christchurch Supreme Court trial, and Pauline Parker and Juliet
Hulme were found guilty of murder. Too young for the death penalty, they
were sent to separate prisons to be 'Detained at Her Majesty's
Pleasure.' Juliet was released in November, 1959 and immediately left
New Zealand to join her mother overseas. Pauline was released two weeks
later but remained in New Zealand on parole until 1965. It was a
condition of their release that they never meet again." See more »

Connections

Referenced in The Hole (2001) See more »

Soundtracks

"The Loveliest Night of the Year"
Written by Irving Aaronson (as Aaronson) / Paul Francis Webster (as Webster) / Juventino Rosas (as Rosas)
By Permission of EMI Music Publishing
Performed by Mario Lanza
Courtesy of BMG/Arista/Ariola Limited See more »