Wingnut Films, 1994
starring: Melanie Lynskey, Kate Winslet, Sarah Peirse and Clive Merrison

directed by: Peter Jackson

the plot: The year is 1953, and 14-year-old Juliet Hulme (Winslet) arrives at an all-girls high school in Christchurch, New Zealand. The daughter of a university rector, she’s headstrong, smart and quirky, and soon attracts the attention of Pauline Reiper (Lynskey), a shy introvert with an active imagination. The two girls quickly form a bond and immerse themselves in a fantasy world of their own creation. But that bond is a little too close for Juliet’s father, Henry (Merrison), and Pauline’s mother, Honora (Peirse). As their parents attempt to separate them, the two girls slide deeper into their fantasies. When Juliet’s parents announce their plans to divorce, the girls hatch a murderous plan to stay together.

why it’s good: With its plot alone, “Heavenly Creatures” is so lurid and bizarre that you can’t help but watch. All the makings of good pulp fiction are here—mentally-ill lesbian school girls, an innocent yet morbid fantasy world and a shockingly brutal murder. And, to top it off, “Heavenly Creatures” is based on a true story. But what makes the movie really great is Peter Jackson, who transforms what could easily be a disposable piece of shock cinema into a living, breathing masterpiece. Jackson brings the inner workings of the girls’ imaginations to life, creating a creepy, uneasy world ruled by a pair of crazy, capricious and hormonal teenage girls. When the clay models the girls make become walking, talking characters, it soon feels totally natural, and as the girls skip merrily into their murderous plans, “Creatures” takes on a hallucinatory tone that’s entrancing and unsettling. Winslet and Lynskey both give excellent performances. And while Winslet went on to super-stardom, it’s Lynskey who truly makes the film her own, scowling, stomping and squealing her way across the screen. Trivia bonus: after being released from prison, the real-life Juliet Hulme went on to become best-selling mystery novelist Anne Perry.

why you should own it: Miramax’s DVD features the uncut, 109-minute version of the film. It’s a must-own for Peter Jackson fans, though those only familiar with “Lord of the Rings” or “King Kong” should rent before they buy.