Feature Film
Heavenly Creatures
1994
Filmed In
Canterbury
Towns & Areas
Christchurch, including Victoria Park
The Story
A dark, visually dazzling psychological drama based on the infamous 1954 Parker–Hulme murder case in Christchurch. It chronicles the obsessive, fantasy-fueled friendship between two schoolgirls that takes a tragic, lethal turn.
The Stars
A brilliant international debut for Kate Winslet and Melanie Lynskey. Both young leads carry a film built on real events, filmed largely in the actual locations where they occurred.
Behind the Lens
Peter Jackson, proving his dramatic genius long before The Lord of the Rings. Jackson co-wrote the screenplay with longtime collaborator Fran Walsh, a partnership that continued through his later, larger productions.
Why NZ?
Because it happened there. Jackson shot on location in Christchurch, utilizing the exact spots where the real-world events unfolded, including the beautiful but haunting paths of Victoria Park. Filming in the actual locations, rather than reconstructions, gives the film a documentary-like weight that's hard to fake on a soundstage.
On Set
The film marked Kate Winslet's screen debut. Melanie Lynskey, playing opposite her, was just 15 and had no prior acting experience when she was discovered late in the casting process. For Peter Jackson, it was a deliberate pivot away from splatter comedy toward serious drama — a gamble that won the Silver Lion at Venice.
Legacy
Based on the real 1954 Parker–Hulme case, the film won the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival and is often cited as the project that first put Peter Jackson on the international map as a serious filmmaker.
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