Heavenly Creatures (1994)

Taglines:

From a secret world no one could see...came a crime no one could believe. 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

Since the Parker-Hulme murder had been an infamous crime that was strongly sensationalized in New Zealand history Jackson decided rather than do a film that would be a historical look back at the crime to instead create a drama about Parker and Hulme's intense friendship. In addition to reading Pauline Parker's diary Jackson and company undertook a nation wide search for anyone who had known the girls and interviewed them to get a closer look at their life. See more »

Goofs

Continuity: When Pauline and Juliet are singing to The Donkey Serenade by Mario Lanza in the woods, they begin to strip off some of their clothes. In one shot after Juliet has been reduced to her bra, we see Pauline begin to remove her vest as she runs from the left to right of the screen. However in the next shot she has it fully on again. 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

References Jubilee Trail (1954) See more »

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 See more »