Rec: Hunt for the Wilderpeople

[sasha_feather]

Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2018, er, 2016) is on Hulu. It's a New Zealand film about a kid, Ricky, who is in the foster system and goes to live on a farm with an older couple, Bella and Hector. Bella is loving and exuberant; Hector (Sam Neill) is standoffish. Ricky is settling in and starting to be happy, when Bella suddenly dies. A letter comes saying Ricky will have to go back into foster care. He decides to run away into the Bush. Hector comes after him, but neither really want to go back to society, so with one thing and another, they spend five months in the bush, encountering wildlife and eccentric people. They evade the authorities and become minor celebrities.

This film is at turns hilarious and poignant, with real heart all the way through. Ricky shines as a fat, Maori kid who likes rap and haiku and reading-- a misfit looking for acceptance. Hector is also a misfit and their scenes together were wonderful. It's quirky and the landscapes are gorgeous.

I loved this film, laughed my butt off, and will watch again.


content notes
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Animal harm and death, mostly hunting to eat, but one of the dogs dies after getting into a fight with a boar.
A few minor references to child harm when Ricky talks about his friend who died in foster care.
Some awkward joking and misunderstanding when some malicious hunters think that Hector is abusing Ricky (he isn't).
Guns are fired for hunting and to threaten people. (no one is killed).

Comments

[marina]

This sounds really interesting. Thanks for writing about it.

[sasha_feather]

I hope you like it!

[lilysea]

I loved this film! ^_^

[bibliofile]

Isn't that from some of the same people who made that hilarious vampire film, What we do in the shadows? I finally saw the whole thing last week. Meant to catch your film in the theater, but as usual I wasn't quick enough. We don't see enough New Zealand movies here, I think.