Juliet (Kate Winslet) and Pauline (Melanie Lynskey) live with their families in the seemingly idyllic confines of Christchurch, New Zealand circa 1953. The two young ladies both attend the same school for girls and quickly begin a friendship born out of their more radical fantasies often escaping into their own imagination-fueled neverland where anything is possible and everything is real. But their intimacy begins to take some unsettling turns, ultimately leading to one of the most notorious and unbelievable murders to ever rock New Zealand.

CRITIQUE

Heavenly Creatures is Peter Jackson’s first ‘adult’ motion picture. I say adult tentatively, of course, for even though this incredible 1994 opus is based-on-fact and focuses on real life characters whose actions are still researched and discussed today the film is still filled with a number of incredibly fantastical elements reminiscent of the director’s previous efforts (including the gory Dead Alive, made only two years prior) and hinting at what was to come in efforts as diverse as The Frighteners and The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Yet, for my part at least, I find Heavenly Creatures to be the most astonishing, emotionally effective picture to be a part of Jackson’s filmography. This one got – still gets – to me, and no matter how many times I watch it viewing Juliet and Pauline spiral farther and farther down the rabbit hole towards their ultimate ruination is a journey I can’t get enough of. Their relationship is so wonderfully formed, so beautifully realized, I feel like Jackson gets unto the two girl’s skin in a way that is intimate and profound. I creepily understand the two young ladies, making their ultimate designs all the more frightening and uncomfortable thanks to that emotionally intimidating familiarity.

Winslet exploded onto the screen with her performance here. The future Academy Award winner made an immediate statement with her portrayal of Juliet, moving from emotion to emotion with dexterous ease bellying her relative inexperience and young age. She makes the girl’s ruinous connection to Pauline unforgettable, Winslet wrapping herself around the other actress like a renegade snake fleeing the Garden of Eden.

Visually, Heavenly Creatures is every bit as interesting, unusual and as wonderful as anything else in Jackson’s oeuvre. His transitions are as seamless as they are original, and while you get the feeling he’s making things up in some way as he goes along his toying with the cinematic medium invigorates proceedings in electrifying fashion. One never quite knows where to focus, isn’t quite sure where on the screen to shift one’s gaze to, allowing the picture to unleash surprise after surprise even of the eventual outcome is a historical fact known by many all around the globe. This is a great, instantly classic picture, and for anyone interested in seeing Jackson working at his absolute best and where the seeds for Lord of the Rings originally germinated Heavenly Creatures is without question the place to start.

THE VIDEO

Heavenly Creatures is presented on a single-layer 25GB Blu-ray with MPEG-4 AVC Video sporting 2.35:1/1080p transfer.

THE AUDIO

The movie murders onto Blu-ray with an English 2.0 DTS Master Audio track along with optional English SDH and Spanish subtitles.

THE EXTRAS

Extras here include:

·         Original Theatrical Trailer (2:03)

That’s it, there’s nothing else, and for those hoping for one of director Peter Jackson’s patented informative and engaging audio commentaries prepare to be disappointed.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Heavenly Creatures is Peter Jackson’s crowning achievement in my opinion, filled with drama and emotion that fascinates and beguiles me in ways difficult to fully explain. The new Blu-ray from Lionsgate could definitely be better, that’s a given, but this is still the best the film has ever looked or sounded, and considering the bargain price point recommending this one on my part is something of a no-brainer.