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Hunt for the Wilderpeople

Hunt for the Wilderpeople

Adventure · Comedy · Drama · 2016

Ricky is a defiant young city kid who finds himself on the run with his cantankerous foster uncle in the wild New Zealand bush. A national manhunt ensues, and the two are forced to put aside their differences and work together to survive.

Movie details

Hunt for the Wilderpeople

“Nature just got gangster.”

2016 Adventure · Comedy · Drama 1h 41m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.6 / 10

Community rating

Ricky is a defiant young city kid who finds himself on the run with his cantankerous foster uncle in the wild New Zealand bush. A national manhunt ensues, and the two are forced to put aside their differences and work together to survive.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Hunt for the Wilderpeople?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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The Emerald Forest

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Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle

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A human child raised by wolves, must face off against a menacing tiger named Shere Khan, as well as his own origins.

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Wounded Civil War soldier John Dunbar tries to commit suicide—and becomes a hero instead. As a reward, he's assigned to his dream post, a remote junction on the Western frontier, and soon makes unlikely friends with the local Sioux tribe.

A Dog's Perfect Christmas

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White Water Summer

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When the experienced guide Vic accompanies the city boy Alan and his three friends on their first wilderness experience, he not only hopes to teach the four boys lessons about the wilderness, but about themselves. Vic pushes them to the limit. Soon after alienating the boys, Vic finds himself in desperate need of help and must rely on his students in order to survive.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Taika Waititi

Written by

Taika Waititi

Sam Neill

Sam Neill

Hec

Julian Dennison

Julian Dennison

Ricky

Rima Te Wiata

Rima Te Wiata

Bella

Rachel House

Rachel House

Paula

Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne

Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne

Kahu

Oscar Kightley

Oscar Kightley

Andy

Stan Walker

Stan Walker

Ron

Court is in session

Put Hunt for the Wilderpeople on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.