“Me and this fat kid / We ran we ate and read books / And it was the best”, reads Hec Faulkner’s haiku. His writing describes the tale told in the film Hunt for the Wilderpeople.
Wilderpeople is a heartwarming and adventurous movie directed by Taika Waititi. Released in 2016, it achieved box office success in Australia and New Zealand but still flies under the radar in the United States.
It deserves far more attention.
Wilderpeople details the story of an unlikely duo – a rebellious and troubled foster kid and his disgruntled foster uncle who go on the run in the extensive wild New Zealand wilderness. This duo successfully evades law enforcement on many occasions and becomes infamously known as the wilderpeople. Wilderpeople seamlessly blends humor, action, and heartfelt moments. This film is beautifully written and produced. It deserves infinitely more recognition than it currently has in the United States.
The film stars Julian Dennison as Ricky Baker, an unruly foster kid, and Sam Neill as Hec, his grumpy foster uncle. Waititi’s style of intertwined humor with emotional depth shines throughout the film. You can clearly see his signature tones shining through when Ricky Baker, in a search for comfort, attempts to heat up a hot water bottle. He fails miserably, melting the water bottle, but Hec steps in to comfort Ricky. Dennison and Neill display this humor and sentimentality through their characters beautifully.
If you like indie gems like Moonrise Kingdom or The Peanut Butter Falcon, this film will likely become a new favorite. It’s an excellent choice for anyone looking for a story about connection, growth, and finding family in unexpected places.
Ricky is placed with a new foster family in the countryside, where he reluctantly bonds with his peculiar Aunt Bella and her husband, Hec. When tragedy strikes, Ricky and Hec flee into the wilderness to avoid being separated by social services. The duo embarks on an adventurous and hilarious journey through the New Zealand wilderness. Known as the bush, as the two fugitives become unlikely allies. Their relationship evolves as they face the challenges of the wilderness, escape authorities, and discover unexpected family connections.
Based on Barry Crump’s novel Wild Pork and Watercress, the story vividly depicts the natural beauty of New Zealand. Though Waititi is now known for hits like Thor: Ragnarok, Wilderpeople was released before his well known success, likely contributing to its lack of recognition.
Wilderpeople will make you laugh and cry from beginning to end. Many films leave people feeling unsatisfied. This film leaves you feeling complete. Living in the wilderness reminds Ricky of the struggles he has gone through in the foster care system. However, being with his new foster parent, Hec, he is able to find stability even as they are fighting to survive. Wilderpeople keeps you on the edge of your seat. You will not regret a single second of this movie.
Streaming on Pluto TV and available for purchase on both Amazon Prime and Apple TV, this movie is a perfect fit for viewers who appreciate films that blend humor and emotion without relying on flashy effects.
In a world where flashy blockbusters dominate the spotlight, Wilderpeople reminds us that the best stories often come from smaller, more personal films. It’s a touching, funny, and beautifully crafted movie that deserves far more recognition than it gets. Don’t sleep on this movie. It’s well worth your time.
