Hunt for the Wilderpeople
2016 · Directed by Taika Waititi
Original language: English
- adventure
- comedy
- drama
The story
Ricky is a defiant young city kid who finds himself on the run with his cantankerous foster uncle in the wild New Zealand bush. A national manhunt ensues, and the two are forced to put aside their differences and work together to survive.
What it’s like
Sun-washed green hills, dense fern-filled bush and mist-soft valleys give this film a lush, open look, shot with a warm, bright palette that turns wet forest into something almost storybook. Camera work is loose and playful, with quick handheld bursts during chases, wide landscape shots that let the country breathe, and sudden deadpan close-ups that land a joke. The score is bouncy and acoustic, with rustic guitar and whistling that sit comfortably beside birdsong and rain on canvas. The vibe is warm, funny and bittersweet, the kind of easy-going adventure that suits a lazy weekend, a comfort rewatch or a long-haul flight. Pacing is brisk and episodic, with the comedy running steadily alongside slower, tender moments. The emotional arc follows a prickly, wounded boy and a gruff, reluctant man slowly building a family bond out of mutual grumbling and grudging care. Violence is minimal and cartoonish, with some rough moments and a few mild scuffles, nothing graphic, and the tone stays gentle throughout. It suits viewers who want a big-hearted, laugh-out-loud road-trip story with a lot of heart and a lot of trees.
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