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Mārama

Play trailer 2:07 Poster for Mārama Apr 2026 1h 29m Horror Mystery & Thriller Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
100% Tomatometer 43 Reviews Popcornmeter 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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Mārama

Mārama

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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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Critics Reviews

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Alison Foreman IndieWire 6d
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. Go to Full Review
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. Go to Full Review
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, Go to Full Review
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. Go to Full Review
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. Go to Full Review
Carson Timar Clapper May 12
Mārama is still an effective piece both of genre filmmaking and cultural messaging, capturing real-life evil and offering a cathartic release against it. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Rett May 6 The cinematography is beautiful See more Uriah Wesman Apr 21 Outstanding Gothic Horror. With some brilliant shots. Highly recommend See more jose c Apr 18 We loved the story. It was tragic and haunting. A great gothic horror to add to the collection. See more Rhys D @rhyspiece 4d My girlfriend called this one of the best movies she'd ever seen. I needed several hours afterwards to process my emotions, I swear a horror movie - or for that matter, any movie - has never made me so tense, so hanging on to every action. I've been looking ever since we saw it for a place I could watch it again. I have so many people I need to show it to. See more Callista S @callista May 12 I really enjoyed this film and am still turning this one over in my head. Themes of colonialism, mysoginy, patriarchy, & more. -the film communicated its messages clearly but there's lots I feel I can get from another viewing. It's a beautiful film, all elements are well chosen for the topics & genre. There is violence against women depicted in a few scenes and it's disturbing. It was well depicted as opposed to the oddly celebratory, diminishing, and mocking style that Tarantino uses. It makes a point that's essential to the story and the viewer's discomfort is needed to communicate that. That's aside from the fact that the viewer's level of discomfort is far less than the bit of violence depicted. I could go on, but I think this is the start of a part of the the conversation the makers wanted viewers to have. Also, this film shows appropriate and healthy women's rage and protection in response to threats, which is something that tends to be oddly missing in a lot of media. See more Luis A @Handbooklu May 12 This could crawl itself ahead of the next Oscar noms and actually take its head. See more Read all reviews
Mārama

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Movie Info

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