HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE

Adapted from Barry Crump’s novel Wild Pork and Watercress, Taika Waititi’s HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE follows an unlikely pair on the run through the New Zealand bush. This is Taika operating at peak Waititiness - It's equal parts funny, entertaining, and profound. If you're a fan of that quintessential Kiwi sense of humour, and how Taika balances irreverence and pathos, you'll love this film.

A big part of the film’s appeal is the relationship between Julian Dennison’s Ricky and Sam Neill’s Hec. They share real odd-couple chemistry, with Dennison in particular drawing praise from critics for a performance full of bravado, insecurity, and comic timing well beyond his years. The humour comes from insults, deadpan reactions, chapter headings, sudden bursts of chaos, and the way Taika lets absurdity sit right next to grief and loneliness.

What makes the film last is that beneath all the quotable lines and comic set pieces, it is really about outsiders building a form of family in a world that has failed them. I’ve chosen to show it at FOMO because it's one of those rare crowd-pleasers that works on several levels at once - wildly funny, emotionally generous, and deeply rewarding. This is a movie for anyone who loves cinema that can be playful, heartfelt, and a little unruly all at once.