---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [Hunt for the Wilderpeople] people seem…"
description: "\"[Hunt for the Wilderpeople] people seem to be just finding it hilarious in Sundance. I would think that judging on the feedback I get; it's a very warm..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad5/sam-neill-10608_cinema_hunt-for-the-wilderpeople-people-seem-to_58409.jpg"
---

#  \[Hunt for the Wilderpeople\] people seem to be just finding…

![“&#91;Hunt for the Wilderpeople&#93; people seem to be just finding it hilarious in Sundance. I would think that judging on the feedback I get; it's a very warming film. It's not sentimental, but people are sort of heart warmed by a message that's pretty rare.” quote by Sam Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad5/sam-neill-10608_cinema_hunt-for-the-wilderpeople-people-seem-to_58409.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad5/sam-neill-10608_cinema_hunt-for-the-wilderpeople-people-seem-to_58409.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad5/sam-neill-10608_cinema_hunt-for-the-wilderpeople-people-seem-to_58409.jpg)

> “\[Hunt for the Wilderpeople\] people seem to be just finding it hilarious in Sundance. I would think that judging on the feedback I get; it's a very warming film. It's not sentimental, but people are sort of heart warmed by a message that's pretty rare.”

[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 speaker notes a disconnect between critical reception and personal impact, emphasizing that the film's subtle warmth resonates despite lacking overt sentimentality.

**In simple terms:** Film can warm hearts without sentimentality.

Key Takeaway

Subtle warmth can be powerful.

Themes

perception vs. reality emotional resonance film criticism authenticity audience response

Mood

reflective hopeful

Type

observation analysis

When to use this quote

- film festivals
- movie reviews
- audience discussions
- director commentary

Key Concepts

emotional impact narrative tone

Practical Applications

- marketing to niche audiences
- guiding critics

Questions to Reflect On

- Why might critics overlook a film's subtle warmth?
- How does understated emotion affect viewer memory?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Messages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/messages/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Sentimental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentimental/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/)

## Related quotes

> [I really unfortunately don't have tons of hilarious Sundance stories, because really I am not the biggest fan of hanging out, but the reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizzy-caplan/i-really-unfortunately-don-t-have-tons-of-hilarious-sundance-stories/)

[Lizzy Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizzy-caplan/)

> [I knew that the principle objective of my film was to be a sentimental or an emotional study. What I did was kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-garrel/i-knew-that-the-principle-objective-of-my-film-was-to-be-a/)

[Louis Garrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-garrel/)

> [ I think it took us all by surprise. I mean, I knew that people in New Zealand would like \[Hunt for the Wilderpeople\], but… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-neill/i-think-it-took-us-all-by-surprise-i-mean-i-knew-that-people-in-new/)

[Sam Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-neill/)

> [When I was growing up, 'Butch and Sundance' was my absolute favorite film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-purefoy/when-i-was-growing-up-butch-and-sundance-was-my-absolute-favorite-film/)

[James Purefoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-purefoy/)

> [You know, when I was a kid, I always thought Id grow up to be a hero.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butch-cassidy/you-know-when-i-was-a-kid-i-always-thought-id-grow-up-to-be-a-hero/)

[Butch Cassidy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/butch-cassidy/)

> [I met Evan Rachel Wood, James Woods, Kevin Bacon at Sundance. Steve Buscemi is pretty laid-back. I met Judy Greer in Vegas, and she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zupan/i-met-evan-rachel-wood-james-woods-kevin-bacon-at-sundance-steve/)

[Mark Zupan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zupan/)

> [Pirates are the very essence of profit maximising entrepreneurs described in neoclassical economics. Yet, whilst films such as 'The Pirates of the Caribbean' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-middlebrook/pirates-are-the-very-essence-of-profit-maximising-entrepreneurs/)

Peter Middlebrook

> [I've been to Sundance eight times as a publicist and thought I was very prepared. I mean, who could've been more prepared for me?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/i-ve-been-to-sundance-eight-times-as-a-publicist-and-thought-i-was/)

[Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/)

> [ Cheryl \[Hines\] and I sat through two screenings at the Sundance Film Festival and during the second one, we said to each other: "You… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-russell/cheryl-hines-and-i-sat-through-two-screenings-at-the-sundance-film/)

[Keri Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-russell/)

> [I'm not really a Sundance baby, but they helped me so much I feel I have to acknowledge it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-thomas-anderson/i-m-not-really-a-sundance-baby-but-they-helped-me-so-much-i-feel-i/)

[Paul Thomas Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-thomas-anderson/)

> [The first time I ever intersected with the quote unquote industry or Hollywood or being given a paid job as a director all came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-shelton/the-first-time-i-ever-intersected-with-the-quote-unquote-industry-or/)

[Lynn Shelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-shelton/)

> [I'm so critical of myself. I'm actually really, really proud of the film. It's really cool to see a movie at Sundance because everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giovanni-ribisi/i-m-so-critical-of-myself-i-m-actually-really-really-proud-of-the/)

[Giovanni Ribisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giovanni-ribisi/)

> [It didn't get into Sundance although I showed a rough cut which is a mistake to all filmmakers out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donal-logue/it-didn-t-get-into-sundance-although-i-showed-a-rough-cut-which-is-a/)

[Donal Logue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donal-logue/)

> [I've been to Sundance before, but I'd never seen a lot of screenings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-dinklage/i-ve-been-to-sundance-before-but-i-d-never-seen-a-lot-of-screenings/)

[Peter Dinklage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-dinklage/)

> [Slamdance actually is indie and rebellious. Sundance obviously felt threatened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yony-leyser/slamdance-actually-is-indie-and-rebellious-sundance-obviously-felt/)

[Yony Leyser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yony-leyser/)

## 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/)

> [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/)

> [I don't have a chateau in France. There's no private airplane or yacht.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-neill/i-don-t-have-a-chateau-in-france-there-s-no-private-airplane-or-yacht/)

[Sam Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-neill/)

[Explore all 64 Sam Neill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-neill/)

## More Cinema quotes

> [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/)

[Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/)

> [You have to have a great director to make a great movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-schoonmaker/you-have-to-have-a-great-director-to-make-a-great-movie/)

[Thelma Schoonmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-schoonmaker/)

> [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/)

[Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/)

> [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/)

[Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/)

> [There was a time in the 1980s when I worked in 22 films a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radha-ravi/there-was-a-time-in-the-1980s-when-i-worked-in-22-films-a-year/)

[Radha Ravi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radha-ravi/)

> [To an ever greater extent out experience is governed by pictures, pictures in newspapers and magazines, on television and in the cinema. Next to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-crimp/to-an-ever-greater-extent-out-experience-is-governed-by-pictures/)

[Douglas Crimp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-crimp/)

> [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/)

> [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/)

[Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/)

> [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/)

[Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/)

> [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/)

[Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/)

> [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/)

[Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/)

> [I even see the cinema itself as a woman, with its alternation of light and darkness, of appearing and disappearing images](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-fellini/i-even-see-the-cinema-itself-as-a-woman-with-its-alternation-of-light/)

[Federico Fellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-fellini/)

> ['Rear Window' isn't really a horror film, but it is a psychological drama, which I love. It is very tense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-silvers/rear-window-isn-t-really-a-horror-film-but-it-is-a-psychological/)

[Diana Silvers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-silvers/)

> [What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/)

Jessica Yu

> [I am not interested in churning out a certain number of films every year. For me, it's about the quality of work. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepika-padukone/i-am-not-interested-in-churning-out-a-certain-number-of-films-every/)

[Deepika Padukone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepika-padukone/)

[Browse all 23,940 Cinema quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "[Hunt for the Wilderpeople] people seem to be just finding it hilarious in Sundance. I would think that judging on the feedback I get; it's a very warming film. It's not sentimental, but people are sort of heart warmed by a message that's pretty rare.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Sam Neill"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-neill/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople-people-seem-to-be-just-finding-it-hilarious/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Cinema"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-neill/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople-people-seem-to-be-just-finding-it-hilarious/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad5/sam-neill-10608_cinema_hunt-for-the-wilderpeople-people-seem-to_58409.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad5/sam-neill-10608_cinema_hunt-for-the-wilderpeople-people-seem-to_58409.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad5/sam-neill-10608_cinema_hunt-for-the-wilderpeople-people-seem-to_58409.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“[Hunt for the Wilderpeople] people seem to be just finding it hilarious in Sundance. I would think that…” — Sam Neill",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Sam Neill",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-neill/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "[Hunt for the Wilderpeople] people seem...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-neill/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople-people-seem-to-be-just-finding-it-hilarious/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-neill/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople-people-seem-to-be-just-finding-it-hilarious/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
