After a tragic car accident that kills his wife, a man discovers he can communicate with the dead to con people. However, when a demonic spirit appears, he may be the only one who can stop it from killing the living and the dead.
Director:
Peter Jackson
Stars:
Michael J. Fox,
Trini Alvarado,
Peter Dobson
A young man's mother is bitten by a Sumatran rat-monkey. She gets sick and dies, at which time she comes back to life, killing and eating dogs, nurses, friends, and neighbors.
Director:
Peter Jackson
Stars:
Timothy Balme,
Diana Peñalver,
Elizabeth Moody
Based on the true story of Juliet Hulme and Pauline Parker, two close friends who share a love of fantasy and literature, who conspire to kill Pauline's mother when she tries to end the girls' intense and obsessive relationship.Written by
Alexander Lum <aj_lum@postoffice.utas.edu.au>
Based largely on information gathered and further detailed in the 2011 book "Anne Perry and The Murder of The Century" (Peter Graham). Excellent source for more real-life information as covered in this film. See more »
Goofs
Near the beginning of the film, we see the girls running past a poster of _Creature from the Black Lagoon_ (1954) in 1952. It could be an advance poster, but this seems highly unlikely since "Creature" wasn't released until March 1954 in the States - let alone New Zealand. 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!
[...] See more »
Crazy Credits
Preceding the opening credits: "During 1953 and 1954 Pauline Yvonne Parker kept diaries recording her friendship with Juliet Marion Hulme. This is their story. All diary entries are in Pauline's own words." See more »
Alternate Versions
An extended version of Pauline's "The Ones That I Worship" poem includes several brief scenes different from the theatrical release. When the Borovinian Nicholas is murdered by Diallo, there is a split-second shot of his clay body cut in half. Immediately following this is an extra, omitted verse of the poem where Pauline and Juliet are shown dressed as Borovinian princesses. They toast with glasses of wine, then transform into clay models of themselves. See more »
Be My Love
Written by Nicholas Brodszky (as Brodsky) / Sammy Cahn (as Cahn)
By Permission of EMI Music Publishing
Performed by Mario Lanza
Courtesy of BMG/Arista/Ariola Limited See more »
In retrospect, you'd never know this is a Peter Jackson film. Not after becoming familiar with his recent work, anyway. "Heavenly Creatures" contains all the subtlety and nuances that his later work desperately needs - the graceful arc of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, despite its critical lauding, doesn't hold a candle to this film.
Melanie Lynskey plays Pauline, a young girl who, along with her best friend Juliet (Kate Winslet), often envisions herself in fantasy worlds and alternate realities. The two girls' parents become so worried about their fantasies that they separate the two girls - but, in a fit of rage, Melanie and Juliet plan a dreadful revenge.
Most shocking of all is that this story sounds like some lame supernatural thriller that would be on a made-for-TV special, in which the girls share some kind of psychic connection - but it's not like that at all. It's a true story, and it's handled quite delicately.
The performances are, for the most part, very good. Winslet shines in one of her earlier performances and displays raw talent.
Overall, watching this I couldn't help but be reminded of how talented Peter Jackson used to be, and how lately he has succumbed to making, for lack of a better description, Hollywood shlock. I liked "Lord of the Rings." I liked "King Kong." But this is better.
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In retrospect, you'd never know this is a Peter Jackson film. Not after becoming familiar with his recent work, anyway. "Heavenly Creatures" contains all the subtlety and nuances that his later work desperately needs - the graceful arc of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, despite its critical lauding, doesn't hold a candle to this film.
Melanie Lynskey plays Pauline, a young girl who, along with her best friend Juliet (Kate Winslet), often envisions herself in fantasy worlds and alternate realities. The two girls' parents become so worried about their fantasies that they separate the two girls - but, in a fit of rage, Melanie and Juliet plan a dreadful revenge.
Most shocking of all is that this story sounds like some lame supernatural thriller that would be on a made-for-TV special, in which the girls share some kind of psychic connection - but it's not like that at all. It's a true story, and it's handled quite delicately.
The performances are, for the most part, very good. Winslet shines in one of her earlier performances and displays raw talent.
Overall, watching this I couldn't help but be reminded of how talented Peter Jackson used to be, and how lately he has succumbed to making, for lack of a better description, Hollywood shlock. I liked "Lord of the Rings." I liked "King Kong." But this is better.