Taika Waititi's 2016 film Hunt for the Wilderpeople is based on Barry Crump's 1986 book Wild Pork and Watercress and although Wilderpeople follows the layout and story of the book, there are a lot of differences between the two as well. Both the film and the book are strongly tied to New Zealand culture and mostly take place in the forest also called the New Zealand bush.
The film stars Julian Dennison and Sam Neill as the two main characters Ricky Baker and Hector Faulkner respectively. Here are some of the biggest differences between the film and the book the film is based on.
Psycho Sam
Rhys Darby's character of Psycho Sam doesn't exist in the book. Ricky and Hec do encounter people while traveling in the New Zealand bush, including a few eccentrics, but none of them are as memorable as Psycho Sam.
Ricky and Hec meet Sam right before the climactic end of the film and he lets them stay with him, offers them dusty cookies, and manipulates their phone so the government can't track them.
Role Of Child Protective Services
Although Child Protective Services has a role in the book it's nowhere near their role in the film. Rachel House's determined CPS agent, who constantly spouts that no child will be left behind as she violently searches for Ricky and Hec, doesn't exist in the book.
CPS is looking for Ricky after Aunt Bella's death, but none of the agents are singled out or given as much blind determination as the film provides.
Taika Waititi's Cameo
Aunt Bella's surprising death happens in both the film and the book, but the book doesn't provide comedic relief at her funeral as the film does.
Director Taika Waititi has a short cameo as the Minister who presides over her funeral service. He goes on a hilarious nonsensical rant about yummy treats and Jesus that allows the audience to laugh through the sadness of Bella's death.
Ricky's Personality
In the book, Ricky doesn't have as big of a personality as he does in the film. Ricky is pretty quiet and follows Bella and Hec almost immediately in the book, unlike the film where he attempts to run away multiple times and hates being with them at the beginning.
He also doesn't have any of his interests in rap music or "skux life" like he does in the film, but he does obsessively enjoy reading in both the book and film.
Ricky And Hec's Relationship
There are turbulent beginnings to Ricky and Hec's relationship in both the film and the book, but it's heightened for the film adaptation. The book sees them get along pretty quickly even though Hec is still a cantankerous character.
The film has them earn their friendship more as it isn't complete and loving friendship until the very end of the film.
Familial Connection
In the film, Ricky isn't actually Hec and Bella's nephew even though he calls them Aunt and Uncle. In the book, Bella is his blood relative Aunt. Bella is Ricky's mother's sister and in the book, he also knows more about his mother than he does in the film.
Although Ricky has a good connection with Bella in both the book and the film this is something that the film decides to portray differently.
Kahu
Ricky goes for help when he and Hec find a man going into diabetic shock in one of the cabins they're visiting in the bush and he runs into Kahu. Ricky is mesmerized by the strong and sarcastic Kahu as she brings him into her home and gives him sausages and sweets.
Kahu doesn't exist in the book, but a character similar to her father is in the book although their personalities are very different.
Scale Of The Manhunt
Although a manhunt for Ricky and Hec happens in both the book and the film, the film's version of the manhunt is completely over the top. There are helicopters searching for the two in the New Zealand bush, but there is a lot more action concerning the manhunt in the film.
The film sees helicopters, police, and anyone wandering around the bush vehemently searching for the two on the run.
Circumstances Of Ricky Running Away
In the book, Hec agrees to let Ricky run away with him after some arguing, and in the film, Ricky forces Hec's hand by lighting the barn on fire and forcing them to run into the New Zealand bush.
This aligns with the differences between Ricky and Hec's relationship and the differences in Ricky's personality portrayed in both the book and film.
Climactic Clash
In Taika Waititi's film, there is a huge climactic clash between CPS, police, and Ricky and Hec at the end of the film. The police have called in multiple tanks and presumably most of their police force to capture the two on the run.
Although the end outcome is the same, this scene and the heavy presence of CPS and the police don't exist in the book.