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IMDbPro

Heavenly Creatures

  • 19941994
  • RR
  • 1h 39m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
64K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
867
52
Kate Winslet and Melanie Lynskey in Heavenly Creatures (1994)
From his humble beginnings as a gore auteur, to the master innovator of some of Hollywood's grandest spectacles, Peter Jackson has dazzled audiences with his distinct, visionary style for more than 30 years. Through 'Bad Taste' and 'The Frighteners', two 'Lord of the Rings' trilogies and 'King Kong,' IMDb explores the unique trademarks of the Oscar-winning writer and director.
Play clip1:33
A Guide to the Films of Peter Jackson
2 Videos
99+ Photos
BiographyCrimeDrama
Two teenage girls share a unique bond; their parents, concerned that the friendship is too intense, separate them, and the girls take revenge.Two teenage girls share a unique bond; their parents, concerned that the friendship is too intense, separate them, and the girls take revenge.Two teenage girls share a unique bond; their parents, concerned that the friendship is too intense, separate them, and the girls take revenge.
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
64K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
867
52
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Peter Jackson
    • Writers
      • Fran Walsh(screenplay)
      • Peter Jackson(screenplay)
    • Stars
      • Melanie Lynskey
      • Kate Winslet
      • Sarah Peirse
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Peter Jackson
    • Writers
      • Fran Walsh(screenplay)
      • Peter Jackson(screenplay)
    • Stars
      • Melanie Lynskey
      • Kate Winslet
      • Sarah Peirse
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 296User reviews
    • 95Critic reviews
    • 86Metascore
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 17 wins & 15 nominations total

    Videos2

    Heavenly Creatures
    Trailer 1:26
    Heavenly Creatures
    A Guide to the Films of Peter Jackson
    Clip 1:33
    A Guide to the Films of Peter Jackson

    Photos105

    Kate Winslet in Heavenly Creatures (1994)
    Kate Winslet and Melanie Lynskey in Heavenly Creatures (1994)
    Melanie Lynskey in Heavenly Creatures (1994)
    Kate Winslet, Melanie Lynskey, and Sarah Peirse in Heavenly Creatures (1994)
    Kate Winslet and Melanie Lynskey in Heavenly Creatures (1994)
    Kate Winslet in Heavenly Creatures (1994)
    Peter Jackson in Heavenly Creatures (1994)
    Kate Winslet and Melanie Lynskey in Heavenly Creatures (1994)
    Kate Winslet and Melanie Lynskey in Heavenly Creatures (1994)
    Kate Winslet and Melanie Lynskey in Heavenly Creatures (1994)
    Kate Winslet and Melanie Lynskey in Heavenly Creatures (1994)
    Grande Movie Poster, 47 x 63

    Top cast

    Edit
    Melanie Lynskey
    Melanie Lynskey
    • Pauline Parker
    Kate Winslet
    Kate Winslet
    • Juliet Hulme
    Sarah Peirse
    Sarah Peirse
    • Honora Parker Rieper
    Diana Kent
    Diana Kent
    • Hilda Hulme
    Clive Merrison
    Clive Merrison
    • Dr. Henry Hulme
    Simon O'Connor
    Simon O'Connor
    • Herbert Rieper
    Jed Brophy
    Jed Brophy
    • John…
    Peter Elliott
    Peter Elliott
    • Bill Perry
    Gilbert Goldie
    Gilbert Goldie
    • Dr. Bennett
    Geoffrey Heath
    Geoffrey Heath
    • Rev. Norris
    Kirsti Ferry
    Kirsti Ferry
    • Wendy
    Ben Skjellerup
    • Jonathan Hulme
    Darien Takle
    Darien Takle
    • Miss Stewart
    Elizabeth Moody
    Elizabeth Moody
    • Miss Waller
    Liz Mullane
    Liz Mullane
    • Mrs. Collins
    Moreen Eason
    • Mrs. Stevens
    Pearl Carpenter
    • Mrs. Zwartz
    Lou Dobson
    • Grandma Parker
    • Director
      • Peter Jackson
    • Writers
      • Fran Walsh(screenplay)
      • Peter Jackson(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Almost all locations used for filming were the genuine locations where the events occurred. The tea shop where Honorah Parker ate her last meal was knocked down a few days after the shoot ended. According to director Sir Peter Jackson, when they got to the location of the murder on the dirt path, it was eerily quiet; the birds stopped singing, and it didn't seem right. So they moved along a couple of hundred yards.
    • Goofs
      When Juliet Hulme is introduced in the movie, it depicts her being called down by both her French and Art teachers. However, none of Hulme's instructors ever spoke to her harshly or even punished her. In fact, the opposite was true. According to classmates of Hulme, because her father was Rector of Canterbury University College and her family was English, she was treated very well by students and instructors alike. Girls Hulme attended classes with have stated in interviews that when a group of them got caught in mischief, they would simply have Hulme say it was her idea and there would be no consequences. Hulme's instructors gave her special allowances based on her father's position, even though he was not well liked by his colleagues, and Hulme's classmates found her very exotic because she was from England.
    • Quotes

      Pauline Parker: [narration] The next time I write in this diary, Mother will be dead. How odd... yet how pleasing.

    • 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."
    • Alternate versions
      The original New Zealand version ran 108 min. Peter Jackson then cut 9 minutes from the film for the international release. (he has mentioned that the 99 min. cut is the one he prefers.)
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Interview with the Vampire/Pontiac Moon/The Santa Clause/Heavenly Creatures/Dr. Strangelove (1994)
    • Soundtracks
      Just a Closer Walk With Thee
      (Trad. Arr. Rosemary Turnbull)

      Performed by Choirs of Burnside High School, Cashmere High School, Hagley Community College,

      Villa Maria College

      Musical Director - Rosemary Turnbull

    User reviews296

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    A Beautiful Haunting Story Of Teenage Obsession
    Lesbian murderers ? I'm sort of guessing that I might not like this movie very much . No doubt we'll be seeing some polemical do gooder film maker with zero talent making a movie where anyone who gets murdered by the gay girls probably asked for it because they were a rabid homophobe

    That was my abstract opinion of HEAVENLY CREATURES when it was released to some critical acclaim ten years ago , with much of the acclaim going to writer/director Peter Jackson whose previous gory horror comedies I'd enjoyed . Yeah the guy was talented I remember thinking , but in a liberal climate we'd no doubt be hearing a myriad of excuses via the film for the girls crime and it was this attitude that stopped me from watching the movie until it was broadcast on BBC 2 tonight

    I was fooling myself if I thought Jackson was going to make a bad movie . This is another piece of heart melting , intelligent movie making from the Kiwi genius and I'm sorry for doubting Jackson for a moment . What Jackson has done has made a movie where it's difficult to think of the two protagonists as " lesbian lovers " , Pauline Reiper and Juliet Hulme are two teenagers who love each other full stop and the screenplay doesn't once make any excuses for anything that happens , we're not supposed to feel disgusted by their relationship , we're not supposed to feel that they are victims in any way and we're not supposed to feel that a conservative , homophobic society is to blame for what happened . Jackson deserves much credit for making an amoral movie without an agenda , it's up to the free thinking audience to make up their own minds on the case. Take for example the murder of Mrs Rieper who kindly takes the girls to a tea house then for a walk in the countryside . It's difficult not to notice that if she'd been an uncaring cruel dragon with absolutely no conscience the girls wouldn't have had an opportunity to murder the woman .

    It's also a movie that captures the spirit of being a teenager in love . When for whatever reason you have to say goodbye to your first love it's the end of the world . You'll do anything to stop it happening - ANYTHING - and you won't forgive anyone who caused it to happen . Fantasy sequences similar to the ones shown here are also a staple diet of the teenage mind and if you disagree with me you're either being dishonest or you're under twelve years of age . Believe me this movie reminded me , perhaps a little too much , of my own teenage angst

    Jackson also deserves credit for his casting Melanie Lynskey and ( A then totally unknown ) Kate Winslet as Pauline and Juliet . Neither of them can be described as strikingly attractive and you do have to worry who we would have got instead if this was a Hollywood production , but they play the star crossed lovers with absolute conviction , as indeed do the rest of the cast

    HEAVENLY CREATURES is beautiful , haunting , thoughtful and incisive . With the exception of Martin Scorsese I rate Peter Jackson as the world's greatest living film maker and HEAVENLY CREATURES is the first movie that showed the true greatness Jackson is capable of
    helpful•119
    54
    • Theo Robertson
    • Jul 3, 2004

    FAQ5

    • What other movies are similiar to Heavenly Creatures? (that weren't on the recommendations list)
    • What are the differences between the Theatrical Version and the Uncensored Version?
    • Is this a true story?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 14, 1994 (New Zealand)
    • Countries of origin
      • New Zealand
      • Germany
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Heavenly Creatures: The Uncut Version
    • Filming locations
      • Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
    • Production companies
      • WingNut Films
      • Fontana Productions
      • New Zealand Film Commission
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $5,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $3,049,135
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $31,592
      • Nov 20, 1994
    • Gross worldwide
      • $3,049,135
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 39 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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