Hunt for the Wilderpeople [PG]

Thirteen year-old juvenile delinquent Ricky Baker is sent to a foster home on the skirts of the New Zealand wilderness. When tragedy strikes taking his ‘Aunty’ Bella away he runs away to live as a nomad, only to get very lost. Found again by ‘Uncle’ Hector, the unlikely duo rough it out in the bush when Hector fractures his ankle. Meanwhile, a massive manhunt ensues for Hector who is believed to have kidnapped Ricky. 

Without a doubt, one of the sweetest and most charming films to come out of this year so far, Hunt for the Wilderpeople is quirky, heart-warming, and one of those films that makes you feel all warm and lovely inside. Truly charming. 

Taika Waititi’s knack for making magical movies out of troubled stories and characters is boundless and in this film it rises up to a whole new level as the most unlikely of characters are thrown together and spark up such a beautiful relationship amidst very real danger. 

What’s most lovely about this movie is its simplicity. Everything from Waititi’s breakup of the film into chapters to the panoramic scene transitions is simplicity done wonderfully well and the minimal use of special effects, modesty of the cast, and raw humour of the script all fuse together to form this beautifully innocent and charming film. 

Based on the book by Barry Crump, Hunt For the Winderpeople sits somewhere between family comedy and fantasy drama. It travels with a quirkiness akin to Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom and the magic of Lord of the Rings, which primarily comes from its being set within the beautiful New Zealand bushland. 

Waititi’s love of cinema and social commentary comes shining through in beautifully shot sequences that remind audiences of Lord of the Rings, Scarface, Thelma and Louise, Psycho and Deliverance. These scenes, blended with scriptural references to Terminator and a plethora of gangster movies give the film a relevance and down-to-earth vibe that all audiences can relate to. It’s a wonderfully inclusive film that depicts a recognisable, yet still timeless, story and allows audiences to really grow emotional attachments to its characters. 

Whilst it’s slow to start, it gathers momentum after the catalyst of tragedy where the comedy of the unlikely and reluctant duo comes into play and from there, there is never really a dull moment because you can’t foresee where the story and the characters are going. 

The central performances from Sam Neill and Julian Dennison are gorgeous, the two play off each other very well with Neill being the old cantankerous grouch and Dennison the defensive little street gansta. 

Starring Rima Te Wiata, Rachel House, Oscar Knightly, San Walker, Mike Minogue, Cohen Holloway, Troy Kingi, Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne, and Rhys Darby, Hunt for the Wilderpeople is a quirky and charming little film that’s filled with drama, family, unlikely relationships, comedy, and action. I would highly recommend it it’s a true delight.