Mārama

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Mārama

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1h 29m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

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Popcornmeter

100%

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44 Reviews

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

1859, North Yorkshire. When young Māori woman Mary arrives from New Zealand, she's trapped as governess to a wealthy whaler's granddaughter. Living among her ancestors' stolen artifacts, she uncovers Sir Cole's horrific crimes. Embracing her Matakite powers, Mary becomes Mārama and must save Anne and avenge her family by destroying him.

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Critics Consensus

Thoughtfully informed by Māori culture and the legacy of colonialism, Mārama is an unsettling gothic horror told with invigorating flair.

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Alison Foreman

IndieWire

May 18

A-

Mārama bears a striking clarity of purpose -- suggesting the horror genre still possesses the ability to turn even a long-ago moment of righteous fury into communal confrontation and spiritual release.

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Valerie Complex

The Nerds of Color

May 5

What Stoppard does beautifully is inject bits of cultural lore across the visual landscape of the film.

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Richard Whittaker

Austin Chronicle

Apr 30

3/5

What makes Mārama intriguing is that this becomes the background for a story of cultural revenge, even if the conventions of the genre often threaten to engulf those more subtle aspects,

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Michael Ward

Should I See It

May 25

4/5

Exceptional costume design, along with striking sound design and gorgeous cinematography instantly sets Mārama apart from films of a similar style.

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Matt Oakes

Silver Screen Riot

May 14

B-

Though more atmospheric than genuinely scary, Stappard’s handsomely mounted production is fueled by a clear-eyed rage against colonialism’s long shadow.

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Liam Lacey

Original Cin

May 13

B+

Heavy-handed but visually memorable, Mārama favours impact over nuance in this Gothic drama on the sins of colonialism.

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Rett

May 6

The cinematography is beautiful

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Uriah Wesman

Apr 21

Outstanding Gothic Horror. With some brilliant shots. Highly recommend

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jose c

Apr 18

We loved the story. It was tragic and haunting. A great gothic horror to add to the collection.

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nilufer E

@Nilicim 14h

A beautiful snooze fest. While the gothic atmosphere is beautifully dark and tense, Mārama suffers from an incredibly boring, painfully slow plot where absolutely nothing happens. It completely prioritizes visual mood over actual storytelling, leaving you frustrated and bored rather than scared.

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MBI M

@MNZGamerX 2d

Not much of a horror movie and not much of a telling of Māori history but in an attempt to do both becomes a feminist revenge story which is now a tiresome film genre done to death ...

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Martin F

@manekenthe 3d

colonial hospitality has never tasted worse

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Taratoa Stappard

Director

Ariāna Osborne

Mary

Toby Stephens

Nathaniel Cole

Umi Myers

Peggy

Evelyn Towersey

Anne

Erroll Shand

Jack Fenton

Mārama: Trailer 1

2:07

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Synopsis

1859, North Yorkshire. When young Māori woman Mary arrives from New Zealand, she's trapped as governess to a wealthy whaler's granddaughter. Living among her ancestors' stolen artifacts, she uncovers Sir Cole's horrific crimes. Embracing her Matakite powers, Mary becomes Mārama and must save Anne and avenge her family by destroying him.

Director: Taratoa Stappard
Producer: Sharlene George, RickyLee Waipuka-Russell, Rouzie Hassanova, Paraone Gloyne
Screenwriter: Taratoa Stappard
Distributor: Dark Sky Films / Watermelon Pictures
Production Co: MPI Media Group, Sweetshop Entertainment, Vendetta Films
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 17, 2026, Limited
Runtime: 1h 29m