Heavenly Creatures (1994)★ 7.2/10

This film marked a turning point for Peter Jackson, signaling his move away from graphic violence. While the brutality here is largely restrained, the theme of violence still permeates the story. The single bloody moment hits hard, but it’s the psychological undercurrent that truly unsettles.

Based on a true 1950s matricide case in New Zealand, "Heavenly Creatures" avoids judgment or melodrama. Peter Jackson chooses to understand rather than condemn, portraying the girls’ bond and descent into fantasy with empathy. There’s no moral lecturing, only a careful, unsettling portrait of obsession.