Local Legends

Although the New Zealand film industry may be small, names like Peter Jackson and Sam Neill have made it feel bigger. Now encouraging the low budgets of kiwi movie-makers to produce some gems. Here are some of my favourite Kiwi films. 

1. Boy; Taika Waititi Click here to see trailer 

Boy (James Rolleston), is an 11 year old devout Michael Jackson fan in 1985, who lives with his gran in Waihau Bay. Boy's father, Alamein (Taika Waititi) then unexpectedly returns to dig up some money he had left here before he had got in trouble with the law. Boy's expectations of his father being heroic are quickly dashed as we see he has rotted his brain with drugs, alcohol, and the gang life. This film is both funny, sweet and dramatic, and perhaps a small taste of rural life in New Zealand in the 80s. 

2. The Locals; Greg Page Click here to see trailer

The acting in this movie isn't fantastic, but the story is original and scary - and has since made me think twice before driving into the farmlands of NZ. Two best friends, Grant (John Barker) and Paul (Dwayne Cameron) head out into the country to have a night of fun, but meet some strange and terrifying people along the way. 

3. Tangiwai; Charlie Haskell Click here to see trailer

Based on the true story of one of New Zealands worst disasters, the 1953 Tangiwai Boxing Day train crash. We follow an up and coming cricketer, Bob Blair (Ryan O'Kane) as he travels to South Africa leaving behind his fiancé Narissa Love (Rose McIver). Disaster strikes and New Zealand goes into mourning. 

4. Rain of the Children; Vincent Ward Click here to see trailer

This film is the reflection on Ward's first documentary In Spring One Plants Alone, where he follows Puhi, an elderly Maori woman living in the Uruweras. With interviews, reinactments and snippets from his first film, we uncover more secrets and tails of Puhi's 'cursed' life as the 13 year old wife of a Maori prophet and mother to 14 children, all but one dead. 

5. Heavenly Creatures; Peter Jackson Click here to see trailer

Kate Winslet's first movie tells the true and horrifying story of her character Juliet Hulme befriending a kiwi girl, Pauline Parker (Melanie Lynskey). Their friendship becomes very intense, and with hints that they are engaged in a lesbian relationship their parents decide to split them up. The consequences for this threat are worse than anyone could have imagined. This movie is beautiful and fascinating, and will leave you wanting to research more into this bizarre case of teen angst gone wrong. 

6. Eagle vs Shark; Taika Waititi Click here to see trailer

I guess you could define this as a rom-com, a very awkward, bizarre and unique rom-com. Two socially awkward misfits, Lily (Loren Taylor) and Jarrod (Jemaine Clement) fall in and out of love with each other as they travel back to Jarrod's home town to defeat his school bully. The soundtrack is an amazing mix of kiwi artists, and a very quotable script. 

7.Two Little Boys; Robert Sarkies Click here to see trailer

Nige (Bret Mackenzie) and Deano (Hamish Blake) are best friends since childhood, and when Nige accidentally kills a tourist Deano is quick to help out. This is a very dark comedy, when the pair face problems hiding and transporting the body, and potentially have to plot to kill another one of their friends, you will feel bad for laughing but won't be able to help it! 

8. What We Do in the Shadows; Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi Click here to see trailer

Another great movie from Taika Waititi, this mockumentary follows a group of Vampire flatmates living in the modern suburbs of Wellington. We see the harsh life of a vampire such as having to kill to survive, rivalries with werewolves and long lost loves, but also the mundane like chore charts and waiting to be invited into nightclubs. This movie is hilarious, genius, and grotesque.