19947.0 / 101h 49mDramaFantasy

Heavenly Creatures

"Not all angels are innocent."

Precocious teenager Juliet moves to New Zealand with her family and soon befriends the quiet, brooding Pauline through their shared love of fantasy and literature. This friendship gradually develops into an intense and obsessive bond.

Quick Stats
7.0
TMDB Rating
1,046
Votes
1h 49m
Runtime
$5.0M
Budget
$3.0M
Box Office
61%
Return
Key Crew
DirectorPeter Jackson
WriterFran Walsh
CinematographyAlun Bollinger
ComposerPeter Dasent
EditorJamie Selkirk
Production DesignMeryl Cronin
Produced by
WingNut FilmsNew Zealand Film CommissionFontana Film Production

Where to Watch

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See more on TMDB → JustWatch

Critics & Reviews

3 featured
badelf
9/10

Should be required viewing in Parenting 101 courses. And also for anyone who thinks conversion therapy for gender issues is the solution. This film was the first jewel in the crown of Peter Jackson, a truly creative director, with clear vision. We're not worthy.

Written Apr 14, 2023 · read original
Filipe Manuel Neto
7/10

**An excellent film that shows the talent of Peter Jackson and the strength and commitment of a magnificent duo of young actresses.** I really liked this film. Like the overwhelming majority of people, I didn't know about the real crime behind the story of this film, where the friendship between two teenagers turns into a sexual and romantic obsession and leads the two young women to kill the mother of one of them, in hope that they can run away or stay together. Directed by Peter Jackson, still a long way from dreaming that he would be as successful as “The Lord of the Rings”, the film is excellent and does a great job in terms of recreating the events and psychology of the two central characters. Of course, according to what I've read, the facts are not entirely clear as to the nature of the relationship the two girls had, but it seems quite clear that, at the very least, there was a very strong obsession between them and a certain dissociation from reality. , through the creation of a fantasy alternative world that functioned as an escape. The film shows us this clearly and manages to maintain a certain ambiguity where it seems most necessary. This was the debut film for young Kate Winslet and Melanie Lynksey. None of them seem exactly like newcomers or inexperienced in the cinematographic art, which can only be a revealing parameter of talent, and of the great qualities that both have revealed since then, most especially Winslet, who has dedicated more time to cinema and achieved a different level of recognition. In addition to them, we also have the excellent performances by Sarah Peirse, Clive Morrison and Diana Kent, in the role of three of the paternal figures. Technically, the film doesn't have any major problems. The pace is ideal, there are no dead moments or situations that seem to be too much or to have been stilted, and the editing is very good and well executed. The cinematography is excellent, with great color and light, particularly in the fantasy scenes, where we enter the fantastic world that these young women created for themselves. The sets are good and, together with the costumes, recreate the period portrayed with verisimilitude. The filming locations are magnificent, very well selected and used. The soundtrack is equally good.

Written Nov 1, 2023 · read original
Chandler Danier
9/10

I had no idea what this story was about. I had no idea what these girls were about. Great to put it all together and shocking to see them carry it out. And it happened. And one is an author...crazy. This is so crazy. The camera sure does lots of moves.

Written Aug 12, 2024 · read original

Cast

Melanie Lynskey
Melanie Lynskey
Pauline Parker
Kate Winslet
Kate Winslet
Juliet Hulme
Sarah Peirse
Sarah Peirse
Honorah Parker Rieper
Diana Kent
Diana Kent
Hilda Hulme
Clive Merrison
Clive Merrison
Dr. Henry Hulme
S
Simon O'Connor
Herbert Rieper
Jed Brophy
Jed Brophy
John / Nicholas
Peter Elliott
Peter Elliott
Bill Perry
G
Gilbert Goldie
Dr. Bennett
G
Geoffrey Heath
Rev. Norris
K
Kirsti Ferry
Wendy
B
Ben Skjellerup
Jonathan Hulme
Darien Takle
Darien Takle
Miss Stewart
Elizabeth Moody
Elizabeth Moody
Miss Waller
Liz Mullane
Liz Mullane
Mrs. Collins

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