Heavenly Creatures (1994)

Director:

Peter Jackson

Writers:

Fran Walsh (screenplay) and
Peter Jackson (screenplay)

Release Date:

14 October 1994 (New Zealand)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Fantasy | 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:

Sexual Awakening | Homosexuality | Orson Welles | Face Slap | Dream

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 16 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Melanie Lynskey	...	Pauline Yvonne (Parker) Rieper
Kate Winslet	...	Juliet Hulme
Sarah Peirse	...	Honorah 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	...	Jonathon 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 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:

Finland:K-15 | South Korea:(Banned) (original rating) | Singapore:R21 | 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:

Melanie Lynskey was cast as Pauline Parker two weeks before filming began. Co-writer Fran Walsh discovered her at the last minute while scouring local high schools for Parker lookalikes.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Steve the boarder arrives with his new Doris Day record, you can tell there is no LP inside, as it bends and crushes as he gets out his board money for Honora.

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:

You'll Never Walk Alone

Heavenly

Heavenly Creatures is a stunning film, surprisingly coming from the gore-maestro Peter Jackson. It follows two girls, Juliet Hulme and Pauline Rieper, who start talking to each other in a P.E. lesson. Over the days their friendship progresses, until they become good friends, and spend time with each other discussing actors, listening to records, and playing dress-up. The acting from Winslet and Lynesky is absolutely terrific from the beginning, Lynesky playing a moody young girl, and Winslet playing the happy, inventive young lady, who is a dab hand a clay modelling and painting. As the film continues, Juliet and Pauline's friendship becomes more and more stronger, as they begin to spend practically every minute of every day with each other. Sarah Peirse give a fine performance as Hilda Hulme, Pauline's mother, who by this time in the movie has become more than a little concerned about the bonding of the two girls. The ending is unforgettable. It is brutal and shocking, however the minutes leading up to the end are beautiful, complete with a spine-tingling, haunting choir music soundtrack. This movie is a beautiful, moving experience, which should leave you tearful by the end.