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Hunt for the Wilderpeople
2016 101 min New Zealand, United Kingdom PG-13 18+
★8.0
Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Director: Taika Waititi
🎭 Based on
«Wild Pork and Watercress»
byBarry Crump
Trailers
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Teaser
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Description
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.
Budget:
$2.5M
US Gross:
$5.21M
Worldwide:
$23.9M
Starring
Sam Neill
Actor
Julian Dennison
Actor
Rima Te Wiata
Actor
Awards
Saturn Awards 2017
— Best Independent Film
Saturn Awards 2017
— Best Young Performer
Key opinion
Hunt for the Wilderpeople is widely celebrated as a charming and heartfelt adventure that masterfully balances quirky, character-driven comedy with emotional coming-of-age drama. While a small minority find the narrative formulaic or tonally inconsistent, the majority of viewers praise the performances, naturalistic scenery, and Taika Waititi's distinct directorial voice.
| Acting | The central chemistry between Sam Neill and Julian Dennison provides a compelling anchor for the film, with both actors delivering nuanced and charismatic performances. | |
| Cinematography | The film utilizes the stunning, natural landscapes of New Zealand to elevate the visual experience beyond typical adventure fare. | |
| Direction | Taika Waititi’s direction successfully blends deadpan, idiosyncratic humor with sincere, grounding emotional beats. | |
| Screenplay | Critics are divided on the film's tonal shifts; some find the transition from grounded drama to farcical chase sequences to be a creative success, while others view it as an erratic loss of control. | |
| Originality | Opinions on the narrative's originality differ; while many appreciate the fresh, 'Kiwi' perspective on the coming-of-age genre, some reviewers feel the plot relies too heavily on familiar tropes and predictable story beats. |