Marama – Movie Review (4/5)

MĀRAMA is a gothic horror movie from Taratoa Stappard. It may start out as a slow-burn movie, but it ends with a bang. We’re talking blood and violence that works perfectly for the reveals later on. This is truly breathtaking storytelling that completely won me over. Read our full MĀRAMA movie review here!

MĀRAMA is a Māori gothic horror movie. It takes place in Victorian England, but the main character is a Māori woman who has made the long journey from New Zealand to finally know the truth about her origin and family. I absolutely loved how it evolved, and Ariāna Osborne is brilliant in the title role.

For quite some time, I was expecting that this movie would land on a solid and respectable 3 out of 5 rating. Then came the third and final act, and I had to surrender and recognize that this is very much a strong 4 out of 5. That ending was breathtaking and made all the slower moments earlier on work even better.

Continue reading our MĀRAMA movie review below. Find it in theaters on April 17, 2026, and on Digital from May 12, 2026.

A Māori Gothic Horror Story of Retribution

That’s pretty much the official description of MĀRAMA: A Māori Gothic Horror Story of Retribution. It’s also very appropriate and works almost as a bare-bones plot description. We follow Mary (Ariāna Osborne), who knows her Māori name is Mārama.

She was raised in New Zealand, but adopted by a nice Englishman and his French wife. She speaks English, French, and Māori. Her adoptive parents never tried to make her forget who she is or where she comes from. It’s clear that she is a strong and proud woman who can stand her ground and demand respect.

She receives a letter from England, in which a man claims he has known her all her life. This means he can tell her everything she needs to know about her origins. Mārama makes the long journey to England, where it’s obvious that she will get no respect.

Not only is she a woman, but she is also viewed as a person of color, and she immediately feels the implications of this.

However, if she thinks this is bad, the things revealed next are even darker. If you ever doubt it while watching this movie, then trust me: this is a gothic horror story. With an emphasis on the horror part!

The pure horror of truth

MĀRAMA is set in North Yorkshire, Victorian England, 1859. However, this is not a story about English history. Well, it is, but not a part they should be particularly proud of. Instead, it focuses on the Māori woman fighting to reclaim her identity. Not least her indigenous culture, which she has never let go of.

With MĀRAMA, what we’re getting is a gothic horror story showing the pure horror of colonial heritage. It’s based on history, facts, and the truth about how terrible indigenous people have been treated. And are still treated today.

However, it also highlights how Mārama’s power from and connection with her origin is what helps her keep going. Ariāna Osborne delivers a powerhouse performance that I hope she’ll carry with her throughout her career. This is an award-winning performance!

Also delivering some staggeringly strong performances are British actors Toby Stephens (Black Sails, The Severed Sun) and Umi Myers (Get Millie Black). They co-star alongside the amazing New Zealanders Erroll Shand (All Her Fault, The Clearing) and Jordan Mooney (The Bluff, Pike River).

Watch MĀRAMA in theaters now

The genre-bending gothic story that is MĀRAMA comes from writer-director Taratoa Stappard (Taumanu, Emkhatsini). He is an Indigenous Māori filmmaker, and this story is obviously one that hits close to home in many ways. While I enjoyed all of it, I absolutely adored that final act. It’s both heartbreaking and deliciously powerful!

MĀRAMA world-premiered at TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) in 2025 and has since screened at many prestigious worldwide. These include Palm Springs, AFI Fest, the iconic Sitges, and others.

Finally, this gothic horror movie is coming to you as the very first co-release between acclaimed genre distributor Dark Sky Films and Watermelon Pictures. As two bold independent companies, they are perfect to secure this boundary-pushing and fearless story reaches a wide audience.

MĀRAMA is out in theaters on April 17, 2026. It will be out on Digital on May 12, 2026.

Details

Director: Taratoa Stappard
Writer: Taratoa Stappard
Cast: Ariāna Osborne, Toby Stephens, Umi Myers, Erroll Shand, Jordan Mooney