One film I was truly excited to see at Fantastic Fest this year was the US premiere of the film from New Zealand, Mārama. This breathtaking gothic horror film was written and directed by Taratoa Stappard in his feature film debut. Mārama is an examination of Māori culture through a gothic horror lens as a young Māori woman travels from New Zealand to England in 1859 searching for her birth parents. Once there, she uncovers terrifying and deadly family secrets.

Stappard has created a true work of art with Mārama. Combining themes of gothic horror, cultural appropriation vs appreciation, and revenge, the film feels almost like Crimson Peak meets Get Out. Mary is a young Māori woman from New Zealand. She receives word from England that someone there might know the truth about her birth parents. After a long trip, she ends up in the remote, stately manor of Nathaniel Cole. While Nathaniel seems kind and helpful, there is something unnerving from the moment Mary arrives. Not only is he clearly hiding something, but he also has an obsession with Maori culture that feels sinister. The longer Mary stays in England, the more secrets she uncovers about herself and those around her. It’s a truly remarkable story, containing all the classic hallmarks and tropes of gothic horror. Yet, by incorporating Maori culture into the narrative, audiences witness something that is quite unique. Because it does follow the classic gothic format, some elements of the plot might be easy to figure out, but Stappard still manages to throw in plenty of shocking moments. It’s a beautiful, haunting story with an important message of empowerment, culture, and vengance.

With such an important, powerful story being told, the casting for Mārama was pivotal to its success. Ariana Osborne (Millie Lies Low) stars as Mary, the young Māori woman. Osborne is a true force of nature in this film, balancing the expectations of English society while also trying to honor the traditions of her people. The more Mary uncovers, the more fierce and gut-wrenching Osborne’s performance becomes. A highlight for her is in a scene when Mary performs the Haka, conveying the rage and generational trauma bursting out of her, which will undoubtedly elicit tears from audiences everywhere. Toby Stephens (Die Another Day, The Machine) plays Nathaniel Cole. Nathaniel is a man with money and status who has a passion of Māori culture. Yet Stephens shows how that passion quickly goes from appreciation to appropriation and even obsession. Even when he’s being kind and helpful, Stephens makes it abundantly clear Nathaniel is not trustworthy. Audiences will also appreciate the disturbingly slimy performance from Erroll Shand (Our Flag Means Death, The Clearing) as Jack Fenton, Nathaniel’s friend and right hand man.

The sights and sounds in this film add such a richness and cultural significance to Mārama. Right away, the locations and sets are brought to the screen with some of the most stunning cinematography I’ve seen in ages. The production design, specifically for Nathaniel’s home and the grounds around it, not only captures the vibe of gothic horror, but it also holds clues to the truth hidden within these walls. It places pieces of Māori culture in the English style home, highlighting the beauty of these objects while also emphasizing how out of place they are away from the land where they came from. Audiences will also fall in love with the costume designer, Sarah Voon (Wolf Man, Evil Dead). The lush, deeply colored fabrics and outfits speak to the era and add dark, yet vivid color to every scene. There are even some grotesque, realistic practical effects for the climax of the film that will surely haunt and horrify audiences. Tying it all together is a moving musical score by Rob Thorne in his feature film debut and Karl Sölve Steven (Bookworm), capturing the gothic feel while also incorporating the tapping sounds of traditional Māori tattooing.

Mārama is a cinematic masterpiece, using gothic horror to tell a breathtaking, heart-wrenching tale of self-discovery and retribution. It’s hard to believe this is Stappard’s first feature film with how polished and powerful this film is. It tells a unique, important story through a familiar style, likely introducing many audiences to Māori culture for the first time. Osborne is a force to be reckoned with, proving she has the skills to be an iconic leading lady. This film is brutal, powerful, and will stick with audiences long after it ends. Stappard has also announced Mārama is the first in a trilogy of planned Māori gothic horror films he will be making and I for one cannot wait to see the next two films.

OVERALL RATING: 9.5/10