Film

The VelociPastor

A priest discovers he can transform into a velociraptor and becomes an unlikely vigilante. This is a deeply silly film that knows exactly what it is: 75 minutes of committed nonsense, practical effects, and genuine glee. It's for people who think the best movies are the ones that trust the bit completely.

TMDb rating2.7

If you liked this

Tucker and Dale vs. Evil2010

Subverts horror tropes with charm and heart. Two hillbillies mistaken for killers become heroes. Genuinely funny, surprisingly touching, and it respects its characters even while the premise is absurd.

But The horror elements might feel thin if you're looking for genuine scares. Some jokes land harder than others, and pacing occasionally stutters.

Tucker and Dale vs. Evil poster

What We Do in the Shadows2014

Vampires in modern Wellington, shot like a mockumentary. Hilarious, affectionate, made by people who clearly love the genre they're gently mocking. Every frame is a joke or a character moment.

But The humour is very dry and understated. If you need big laughs and clear punchlines, this might feel slow. Some cultural references are very New Zealand-specific.

What We Do in the Shadows poster

Kung Fu Hustle2004

Stephen Chow's martial arts comedy that moves like a dream. Stylish action, genuine heart, incredible set pieces played completely straight. A film that loves its genre and knows how to do it justice.

But Tone shifts wildly between slapstick and melodrama. If tonal whiplash bothers you, this won't work. Some of the CG has aged noticeably.

Kung Fu Hustle poster

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The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

The Happiness of the Katakuris2002

Both commit entirely to a bizarre central premise without apology or winking. Both find genuine heart inside the absurdity, and both trust that strange can be sincere.

A family opens a bed-and-breakfast on a mountain. Their guests keep dying. Director Takashi Miike makes a musical horror-comedy where grief and joy collide, often in the same scene. Utterly singular, impossibly weird, genuinely moving.

But This is aggressively strange. Tone whips between musical numbers and graphic death. Stop-motion animated sequences appear without warning. Not a film for viewers who want consistency.

The Happiness of the Katakuris poster
More like this (7)

Werewolves Within2021

A village mystery where a werewolf might be among the residents. Smart, funny script with real character work. Balances mystery and comedy without sacrificing either, and it genuinely likes its people.

But Doesn't have the budget for expensive set pieces or creature effects. The mystery can feel a little predictable if you've seen many whodunnits.

Werewolves Within poster

The Cabin in the Woods2012

Takes horror tropes seriously while completely deconstructing them. Clever without being smug, exciting without cynicism. Respects both the genre and the audience's intelligence.

But Very meta. If you're not familiar with horror conventions, some of the jokes won't land. The third act gets genuinely bleak.

The Cabin in the Woods poster

Deathgasm2015

Two metalheads accidentally unleash demonic forces. A genuine labour of love from New Zealand. Gory, funny, irreverent, and made with real skill and affection for horror and metal culture.

But Very graphic violence and sexual content. The humour is juvenile and crude—which is the point, but not everyone's point. Requires stomach for splatter comedy.

Deathgasm poster

Lake Placid1999

A giant crocodile terrorizes Maine. B-movie creature feature with a stellar cast (Betsy Davis, Oliver Platt, Bill Pullman) that are far too good for this and know it. Pure entertainment, self-aware without winking.

But The effects are very '90s and haven't aged well. The plot is paper-thin and the kills are surprisingly bloodless for what should be a horror film.

Lake Placid poster

Club Paradise1986

Harold Ramis and Rick Moranis at a Caribbean resort that might harbour revolutionaries. Shambling, weird, genuinely odd-duck comedy from a different era. Committed to its own peculiar rhythm.

But The film is messy and shaggy. Plot barely exists. If you need a clear structure or consistent tone, this will feel scattered and slow.

Club Paradise poster

Slither2006

A small town faces an alien slug invasion. James Gunn's directorial debut: affectionate, gory, funny, with real warmth beneath the carnage. Loves its genre and its people equally.

But Gross-out humour and body horror throughout. The tone can feel uneven if you're not in the mood for tonal shifts. Creature effects are very squishy and wet.

Slither poster

Godzilla vs. Hedorah1971

Both are films about unlikely heroes gaining impossible powers and using them to fight actual evil, played absolutely straight despite how ridiculous it all sounds on paper.

Godzilla fights a sentient pollution monster in 1970s Tokyo. Weirdly psychedelic, cheap but inventive, deadly serious about its ecological message while guys in suits destroy miniature cities. Earnest beneath the camp.

But The creature effects are exactly what you'd expect from low-budget '70s tokusatsu. Pacing is strange and meditative for a monster movie. Environmental preaching is very on-the-nose.

Godzilla vs. Hedorah poster

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