Hunt for the Wilderpeople

As he showed as co-director of What We Do in the Shadows, Taika Waititi proved he was capable of telling a good story. But how well has he fared with his follow-up film Hunt for the Wilderpeople? From the trailer alone, you can tell it'll be fun but there's more to it.

In a way, Hunt for the Wilderpeople is almost like the New Zealand equivalent of The Defiant Ones. The leads for both films are of different temperaments which creates conflict early on. But once they get used to each other, a bond of sorts forms.

Come to think of it, there are a few similarities between Hunt for the Wilderpeople and The Defiant Ones. As well as the two leads being on the run from the law, there's the law itself being determined to get their men. The main difference is that Paula (Rachel House) is more driven in being victorious.

What Waititi also shows in Hunt for the Wilderpeople is a sense of adventure. Not since The Lord of the Rings the previous decade has New Zealand been used as an effective backdrop. After all, it would be so easy to get lost in that wilderness.

Hunt for the Wilderpeople is a delight. While it doesn't have the same amount of laughs as What We Do in the Shadows, it makes up by having a lot of heart. Oh, and the many reaction shots from Sam Neill are everything.

My Rating: ****1/2