Nature just got gangster

Hunt For the Wilder People
2016 | Color | 1 Hr 41 Min | Adventure | PG-13 | Piki Films


Director: Taika Waititi

Writers:
Taika Waititi
Barry Crump

Stars: 
Sam Neill
Julian Dennison
Rima Te Wiata

A national manhunt is ordered for a rebellious kid and his foster uncle who go missing in the wild New Zealand bush.


A coming of age story of friendship in the most peculiar way! This movie has it all heart, spirit, comedy, and adventure. Hunt for the Wilder People is downright amazing.


Speaking of amazing New Zealand is breathtaking and Taika Waititi paints a beautiful and lush picture. After his role in the Hollywood bomb, Green Lantern Taika quickly bounced back as a director with a smash hit "What We Do in the Shadow's". For now, we will just call Green Lantern a hick-up and hope that his upcoming Thor: Ragnarok will not be so bad. In any case, this is a young director that deserves to taken seriously. One of my favorite elements in this movie was his pace and how he brought you seamlessly from one scene into another with these long and flowing panned shots. Everything you learn in film school he tossed out the window and it does not matter yet everything is Majestical.*a reference from the movie sorry.


The locations used in this movie look like a postcard straight from New Zeland. Even if it is a big scary forest (the Bush) that in no way could I survive in for more than a few days. The soundtrack lends to the heartwarming story that is at hand, softly bringing you into the mix and wrapping around you like a warm blanket. In fact, the score should be up for an Oscar, I feel it was another actor in the movie.  



The big story is about an Inner-city foster child that nobody wants around and a foster parent that is not sure what to do with him as well. Throughout the movie, they learn to trust each other and to teach one another how to survive. I would say the comedy aspect comes from the whole miss understanding and them becoming fugitives. 


Sure the movie is all about the boy but let's be honest here Sam Neill is fantastic and the star of this movie. Maybe it is just me, but I could see past Jurassic Park as he brought this character to life. You get so wrapped up in his role that he win's you over! Not to say Julian Dennison was not great as well. It was fun watching him bring this down on his luck kid to manhood in under on hour and forty minutes.  I also want to mention Rima Te Wiata who plays the aunt in the story. I could easily hug that woman and call her my aunt she is so sweet and funny. I'm pretty sure I wrote her praises in my "Housebound" review as well!


After cleaning house at so many film festivals it's a shame that the Golden Globes kind of snubbed this movie. Maybe the Oscars will see things a little different. If you are looking for a heartwarming story that I strongly suggest Hunt for the Wilder People! This movie will make you feel warm and fuzzy and yet I need a shower kind of way. 

It's amazing...

4 Ninja Santa's out of 5

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