Rewatched Heavenly Creatures due to the interest in Peter Jackson, first 20 mins I was thinking it wasn't how I remembered it at all, considering I've not seen this film since VHS but it gradually got better and ended up being pretty gripping stuff, the tension building during 'the day of the happy event' was unbearable at some points. I really enjoyed it to be honest.
Only critique about the direction really is Jackson tries a bit too hard at the start of the film to distance himself from his horror past and ends up coming across as a Spielberg try hard. As the tone gets darker he comes into his own even if he tries to rip off Suspiria/Inferno with his lighting and camera angles.
__________________  Triumphant sight on a northern sky |