Hamish Alexander - Hunt for the Wilderpeople

This review comes from guest writer Hamish Alexander. I hope he writes more for the blog in the future, and to hear more of his opinions.

Hunt for the Wilderpeople is a hilarious, surprising and if I might add, one of my favourite films of all time. I must admit, I was skeptical from the moment I entered the cinema, having heard nothing of the movie prior to watching it. However I was very pleasantly surprised.

The movie opens with high pitched, tone setting music with the camera flying across the beautiful New Zealand landscape. My initial interpretations of the film were that it was a low budget, awkward movie. We were introduce ed to the main characters of the film (Ricky Baker, Hector (Uncle) and Paula) along with Ricky’s adoptive carer, in a calm and somewhat awkward scene. It opens with funny dialog with awkward pauses which initially took me some time to get used to but by the end of the movie had me howling in laughter.

The main character of the movie is relatable for the audience in his immediate hesitation and obvious disgust towards all things new and alien to him (Ricky being a ‘city boy’) both on Hector and Bella’s farm and in the New Zealand outback. When his adaptive aunt tries to get him to help her pull the hair from some animal carcasses, we feel what Ricky feels, repulsion the same of which applies to various scenes throughout the movie. Whilst Ricky is initially the relatable, urban kid he slowly makes a transformation in his journeys through the wilderness. Picking up tips, tricks and ‘the knack’ from Hector and learning to live without certain privileges Ricky slowly transforms into an independent, somewhat deranged kid sometimes looking to his idols and copying them too much causing him to make more than poor judgement calls even going to a crazy extent.

The midpoint of the movie sees Hector slowly taking a liking to Ricky, teaching him lessons and looking out for him along the way. The story, whilst always having underlying humour, turns suddenly upbeat and even somewhat heartfelt as we see the pair’s relationship spark into even best friends. The film slowly climbs in hilarity building up to around half way through the movie where it plateaus out and eventually declines at roughly that three quarter mark. I must admit that for me at least the ending was a little bit of a disappointment in that they returned to normal society. However whilst I doubt this the hunt a previously thought to be extinct bird that they discover on their journeys does open the movie up to a sequel.

The film captures New Zealand’s beautiful natural landscapes and somehow seamlessly accompanies them with endless streams of jokes to form a wonderful, unexpected and original hit which I can honestly say is one of my favourite movies of all time. If anyone were to ask I would hands down recommend this movie to anyone, I truly feel that it has something for everybody whether you enjoy the surreal scenery or the amazing humour or even just the story of a kid who slowly gets closer and closer to his adoptive “Uncle”.