--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Because I was familiar with Taika's…" description: "\"Because I was familiar with Taika's Watiti work and there's a very subversive, funny streak amongst all of them. I don't think he turned [Hunt for the ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5db/sam-neill-10608_comedy_because-i-was-familiar-with-taika-s-wati_1814494.jpg" --- # Because I was familiar with Taika's Watiti work and… ![“Because I was familiar with Taika's Watiti work and there's a very subversive, funny streak amongst all of them. I don't think he turned [Hunt for the Wilderpeople] into a sort of drama, there's too much dark material underneath it for it to be a comedy; it wasn't designed to be a comedy. I think…” quote by Sam Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5db/sam-neill-10608_comedy_because-i-was-familiar-with-taika-s-wati_1814494.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5db/sam-neill-10608_comedy_because-i-was-familiar-with-taika-s-wati_1814494.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5db/sam-neill-10608_comedy_because-i-was-familiar-with-taika-s-wati_1814494.jpg) > “Because I was familiar with Taika's Watiti work and there's a very subversive, funny streak amongst all of them. I don't think he turned \[Hunt for the Wilderpeople\] into a sort of drama, there's too much dark material underneath it for it to be a comedy; it wasn't designed to be a comedy. I think it's a comedy... I think it's a drama that's funny; which is different.” [Sam Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-neill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The film blends dark themes with humor, creating a hybrid that feels both dramatic and funny. **In simple terms:** Dark drama with humor. Key Takeaway Embrace genre blending. Themes film genre humor drama subversion Mood reflective analytical Type critical theoretical When to use this quote - film analysis - creative writing - media criticism - teaching film studies Key Concepts Narrative tone emotional contrast cultural commentary Questions to Reflect On - How does humor affect perception of serious topics? - When does drama become comedy? A Different Perspective Balancing dark material with comedy can dilute impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Comedy Wasn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy-wasn-1463626/) [Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Drama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama/) [Drama Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama-funny/) [Familiar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/familiar/) [Funny Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny-different-906846/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Hunts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hunts/) [Materials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/materials/) [Streaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streaks/) [Subversive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subversive/) [Think Drama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-drama-593466/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Too much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-much/) [Watiti Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/watiti-work-2142384/) ## Related quotes > [I don't believe in comedy as a TV genre - I think there's drama that is funny. Because beyond the laughs, there has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michaela-coel/i-don-t-believe-in-comedy-as-a-tv-genre-i-think-there-s-drama-that-is/) [Michaela Coel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michaela-coel/) > [If you've never seen me perform live, I'm a must-see. I'm very funny. I have a different perspective sometimes on a lot of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/if-you-ve-never-seen-me-perform-live-i-m-a-must-see-i-m-very-funny-i/) [Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) > [I think since I'm not particularly well-known as myself, it's funny all the different perceptions people have of me. Like, if someone's only seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-elizabeth-winstead/i-think-since-i-m-not-particularly-well-known-as-myself-it-s-funny/) [Mary Elizabeth Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-elizabeth-winstead/) > [I love getting to know weird people. the ones who are sad or dress funny or have different beliefs than me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-love-getting-to-know-weird-people-the-ones-who-are-sad-or-dress/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Funny how different life could be, so many things that make you take one route instead of another. If only we could live them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-f-hamilton/funny-how-different-life-could-be-so-many-things-that-make-you-take/) [Peter F. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-f-hamilton/) > [Everybody's funny in different ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-quinn/everybody-s-funny-in-different-ways/) [Colin Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-quinn/) > [Garry Shandling in particular - really had the concept. He really knew it, and it was done so lovingly. He would go beyond the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tambor/garry-shandling-in-particular-really-had-the-concept-he-really-knew/) [Jeffrey Tambor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/) > [Comedy wasn't something I chose - it chose me. I was just inherently funny when I was a kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauly-shore/comedy-wasn-t-something-i-chose-it-chose-me-i-was-just-inherently/) [Pauly Shore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauly-shore/) > [I probably wouldn't be doing comedy, if it wasn't for the fact that I was doing stand-up and getting a few gigs, while I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-stirling/i-probably-wouldn-t-be-doing-comedy-if-it-wasn-t-for-the-fact-that-i/) [Iain Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-stirling/) > [I'd done light comedy. In some quarters, About Last Night... is a romantic comedy. So it wasn't like I'd been doing Sophie's Choice my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/i-d-done-light-comedy-in-some-quarters-about-last-night-is-a-romantic/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [People don't realize, or maybe they've forgotten, that there was a time in history when standup comedy wasn't something that you had to hide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-stine/people-don-t-realize-or-maybe-they-ve-forgotten-that-there-was-a-time/) [Brad Stine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-stine/) > [The move into adult comedy wasn't so much moving away from 'The Wonder Years' as expanding myself as a director.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-savage/the-move-into-adult-comedy-wasn-t-so-much-moving-away-from-the-wonder/) [Fred Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-savage/) > [I got away from comedy because it wasn't being done in the way that I loved and the way that I could do it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/i-got-away-from-comedy-because-it-wasn-t-being-done-in-the-way-that-i/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) > [Comedy wasn't something I chose - it chose me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauly-shore/comedy-wasn-t-something-i-chose-it-chose-me/) [Pauly Shore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauly-shore/) > [I have covered myself in meat many times. Many times for the sake of comedy. It wasn't always funny, but I did it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-sherman/i-have-covered-myself-in-meat-many-times-many-times-for-the-sake-of/) [Sarah Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-sherman/) ## More by Sam Neill > [“Mars looks like Vegas without the casinos.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-neill/mars-looks-like-vegas-without-the-casinos/) [Sam Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-neill/) > [ \[Hunt for the Wilderpeople\] people seem to be just finding it hilarious in Sundance. I would think that judging on the feedback I get;… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-neill/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople-people-seem-to-be-just-finding-it-hilarious/) [Sam Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-neill/) > [Wines are like women in that it's often the imperfections that fascinate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-neill/wines-are-like-women-in-that-it-s-often-the-imperfections-that/) [Sam Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-neill/) > [Where we're going, we won't need eyes to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-neill/where-we-re-going-we-won-t-need-eyes-to-see/) [Sam Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-neill/) > [ The core of the film \[Hunt for the Wilderpeople\] is that relationship. Whether they're getting on or whether they're not. If that relationship works,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-neill/the-core-of-the-film-hunt-for-the-wilderpeople-is-that-relationship/) [Sam Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-neill/) > [Whilst filming 'Jurassic Park,' I watched a hurricane approaching the beach in Hawaii. My co-worker Laura Dern and I thought we might die, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-neill/whilst-filming-jurassic-park-i-watched-a-hurricane-approaching-the/) [Sam Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-neill/) > [As much as possible, I try to encourage people to use stunt men because that is really their job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-neill/as-much-as-possible-i-try-to-encourage-people-to-use-stunt-men/) [Sam Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-neill/) > [I'm not sure it's affection for Australian or New Zealand films or not. I think it's just that there's something about 'Wilderpeople' that has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-neill/i-m-not-sure-it-s-affection-for-australian-or-new-zealand-films-or/) [Sam Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-neill/) > [I'm conscious that there's only a limited amount that I'll get done before I get shuffled into retirement, but I certainly have no desire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-neill/i-m-conscious-that-there-s-only-a-limited-amount-that-i-ll-get-done/) [Sam Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-neill/) > [People turn into fools when they see a movie star and do weird things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-neill/people-turn-into-fools-when-they-see-a-movie-star-and-do-weird-things/) [Sam Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-neill/) > [If it looks like fun, and it looks like quality, then I'll do it. I don't feel compelled to work - or not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-neill/if-it-looks-like-fun-and-it-looks-like-quality-then-i-ll-do-it-i-don/) [Sam Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-neill/) > [I like being around actors. Imagine not liking actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-neill/i-like-being-around-actors-imagine-not-liking-actors/) [Sam Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-neill/) > [We always have to remind ourselves of how fragile life on this planet is and what responsibilities we have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-neill/we-always-have-to-remind-ourselves-of-how-fragile-life-on-this-planet/) [Sam Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-neill/) > [Try and fit in in a New Zealand playground with an Armagh accent - it doesn't work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-neill/try-and-fit-in-in-a-new-zealand-playground-with-an-armagh-accent-it/) [Sam Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-neill/) > [I think you need brains to do any Shakespeare with any authority. I could do Shakespeare, but not with any authority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-neill/i-think-you-need-brains-to-do-any-shakespeare-with-any-authority-i/) [Sam Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-neill/) [Explore all 64 Sam Neill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-neill/) ## More Comedy quotes > ['Mad TV' is one of my most favorite shows of all time and is a huge part of my obsession with sketch comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/mad-tv-is-one-of-my-most-favorite-shows-of-all-time-and-is-a-huge/) [Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/) > [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/) [Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I wouldn't want people to laugh at me. That's why I have to give all that I can, and at least produce something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhao-wei/i-wouldn-t-want-people-to-laugh-at-me-that-s-why-i-have-to-give-all/) [Zhao Wei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhao-wei/) > [“Our world will not die as a result of the bomb, as the papers say, it will die of laughter, of banality, of making a joke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/our-world-will-not-die-as-a-result-of-the-bomb-as-the-papers-say-it/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [I've been funny my whole life. This is a gift God gave me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/i-ve-been-funny-my-whole-life-this-is-a-gift-god-gave-me/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [“Laugh and grow strong”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-of-loyola/laugh-and-grow-strong/) [Ignatius of Loyola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-loyola/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [There's a difference between delivering real funny and just silly funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-rel-howery/there-s-a-difference-between-delivering-real-funny-and-just-silly/) [Lil Rel Howery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-rel-howery/) > [Oh to that corkscrew, the useful tool to unlock the treasure of wit, the treasury of laughter, the front door of fellowship, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-guzaldo/oh-to-that-corkscrew-the-useful-tool-to-unlock-the-treasure-of-wit/) [Andrew Guzaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-guzaldo/) > [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/) [Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/) > [I do love to laugh!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-giudice/i-do-love-to-laugh/) [Teresa Giudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-giudice/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) [Browse all 19,795 Comedy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Because I was familiar with Taika's Watiti work and there's a very subversive, funny streak amongst all of them. I don't think he turned [Hunt for the Wilderpeople] into a sort of drama, there's too much dark material underneath it for it to be a comedy; it wasn't designed to be a comedy. I think it's a comedy... 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