Mārama
The brief
Toa Stappard flips the colonial horror script by centering Māori rage and revenge in this period piece that burns with righteous fury. Ariaana Riviere-Peters is magnetic as a woman discovering the full scope of her family's trauma, while Toby Stephens delivers his most chilling work as the aristocratic monster who deserves everything coming to him. The Yorkshire moors become genuinely menacing as Stappard builds dread through cultural displacement and ancestral wounds rather than cheap scares. If you loved the anti-colonial bite of His House or the slow-burn vengeance of The Nightingale, this one's going straight to your must-watch list.
The verdict
If you're drawn to culturally conscious horror that prioritizes ancestral trauma and slow-burn revenge over jump scares, this anti-colonial rage piece will hit hard with Riviere-Peters' magnetic performance anchoring the fury. If you prefer traditional horror thrills or aren't prepared for an intense examination of colonial violence through a Māori lens, the deliberate pacing and heavy subject matter will feel more punishing than entertaining.
Watch with
- 👥 Horror fans who appreciate serious themes
- 👫 Those interested in colonial history discussions
- ⚠️ Avoid if sensitive to colonial violence
Heads up
- Colonial violence and family trauma themes (moderate)
- Graphic violence during revenge sequences (moderate)
- Depictions of historical racism and abuse (frequent)
Credits
- Director
- Toa Stappard
- Cast
- Ariaana Osborne, Toby Stephens, Umi Myers, Erroll Shand, Jordan Mooney
Official synopsis
1859. When a young Māori woman is summoned from New Zealand to North Yorkshire, she uncovers her horrific colonial
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with Colony (2026)
Both films explore colonial violence and its devastating impact on indigenous peoples.
Total runtime: 1h 29m + 2h 3m = 3h 32m
