Underwhelming Presence
The movie opens with an empty house, cameras pan around from the perspective of what viewers are confused about at first, but turns out to be a spirit living in the home.
Boy (2012)
Boy, an 11-year-old child and devout Michael Jackson fan who lives on the east coast of New Zealand in 1984, gets a chance to know his absentee criminal father, who has returned to find a bag of money he buried years ago.
5.0 / 5
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Caesarea Hendrix
June 29, 2026
5.0 / 5
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New Zealand - Boy
Feeling a bit nostalgic for the 80s and peckish for a change in scenery? Slip on your favorite dungarees, lace up your best tennis shoes and spend the day on the east coast of New Zealand before the 90s.
The 2010 film Boy, directed by Taika Waititi (director of Hunt for the Wilderpeople, 2016) follows a young preteen, called Boy, who lives in New Zealand and absolutely adores Michael Jackson. Boy’s father returns from prison, out of the blue, in search of a bag of money he buried years prior, when Boy’s grandmother happens to leave for a quick trip. Set in the 80’s, Boy is faced with the reality of his absent father who isn’t all he imagined him to be.
Waititi takes the viewer on a heartfelt adventure in this coming-of-age dramedy. Boy imitates Michael Jackson in his free time, while his little brother practices his superpowers. Boy does his best to not get in trouble but some peers from his class push him to his limits. When his dad appears he doesn’t set the best example of a father or a noble man, asking Boy to not call him “dad”. With all the voices speaking into his life, Boy must decide who he’s going to listen to and who he’s going to be.
Incluvie Writer
December 6, 2021
5.0 / 5
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A child’s guide to raising himself: “Boy”
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Movie Information
Boy, an 11-year-old child and devout Michael Jackson fan who lives on the east coast of New Zealand in 1984, gets a chance to know his absentee criminal father, who has returned to find a bag of money he buried years ago.
Rating:
Genre:Drama, Comedy
Directed By:Taika Waititi
Written By:Taika Waititi
In Theaters:3/2/2012
Box Office:$9,116,968
Runtime:88 minutes
Studio:New Zealand Film Commission, Unison Films, Whenua Films
Cast
Taika Waititi
Director
Taika Waititi
Director
James Rolleston
Boy
Te Aho Aho Eketone-Whitu
Rocky
Taika Waititi
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Dynasty
Cherilee Martin
Kelly
RickyLee Waipuka-Russell
Chardonnay
Haze Reweti
Dallas
Maakariini Butler
Murray
Rajvinder Eria
Tane
Manihera Rangiuaia
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Darcy Ray Flavell-Hudson
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