10 Great Movies About Men In The Wilderness
6. The Hunt For The Wilderpeople
The New Zealand wilderness is the location for this new and bizarre comedy drama about a young tearaway finding a home of sorts with his tempestuous uncle. It's the newest release on the list and a fine point from which to plot a course to the other choices.
Problem child Ricky (Julian Dennison) is relocated from the urban sprawl to live with his Uncle Hec (Sam Neill) and Aunt Bella (Rima Te Wiata) out in the country. Unfortunately for the troubled youth Bella dies and his case workers don't want Hec in charge. When Ricky decides to flee into the woods the authorities think Hec has kidnapped him, whereupon a surreal chase begins.
Wilderpeople bears all the hallmarks of the best wilderness movies: it features the environment as a key element in peoples' lives, from which hardship family and friendship bonds are fashioned. It also brings viewers extreme behaviour, male pride and gorgeous scenery. Based on the book by Barry Crump, it both complements the genre and gives it a kick up the backside.