"Hunt for the Wilderpeople", directed by Taika Waititi

Movie, 2016

Touching and funny buddy story with a non-cloying performance by a child actor on the run from an over zealous child protection team in the New Zealand wilderness. While this is in no way a radical breakthrough film, the humour is well-balanced and the characters work well together, even if aside from the main protagonists, they tend to be very crudely drawn. The film delivers poignancy within something of a riotous framework, which is quite a feat, given the set up and the concentration on the two main actors and characters.

"What We Do in the Shadows", directed Jermaine Clement, Taika Waititi

Film, 2014

Mockumentary about four flat-sharing vampires and their interactions with two newcomers, one of whom is turned into a vampire and one - the hilariously popular Stu - who isn't. This preposterous set up sits on top of some occasionally almost understated humour and some amusing scenes, most notably in the face-off between the vampires and a werewolf gang. There's plenty of gore giving a contemporary feel, and although this is very neat, controlled and full of genre jokes, this is a blood and guts gentle comedy which is full of laughs.