While there were certainly some films that emerged from Sundance with a ton of national attention, one that people were excitedly chatting about in Park City was Taika Waititi's Hunt for the Wilderpeople. While I didn't see the oddly-titled film myself, everyone I know who did had great things to say about its quirky charm, which shouldn't be a surprise coming from the director of What We Do in the Shadows and Eagle vs. Shark. And now a new trailer has been released to show what all that quiet buzz has been about.
Starring Sam Neill, Julian Dennison, Sam Neill, Rima Te Wiata, Rachel House, and Oscar Kightley, the story centers on a foster kid who flees into the jungle with his cranky uncle. Here's the synopsis:
Raised on hip-hop and foster care, defiant city kid Ricky gets a fresh start in the New Zealand countryside. He quickly finds himself at home with his new foster family: the loving Aunt Bella, the cantankerous Uncle Hec, and dog Tupac. When a tragedy strikes that threatens to ship Ricky to another home, both he and Hec go on the run in the bush. As a national manhunt ensues, the newly branded outlaws must face their options: go out in a blaze of glory or overcome their differences and survive as a family.
Hunt for the Wilderpeople has yet to gain a U.S date but opens in New Zealand next month. Next up for Waititi is Marvel's Thor: Ragnarok, which should be interesting to see how he handles a much bigger landscape.
