Mārama Brings Gothic Horror to Canterbury
A young Māori woman's fight to reclaim her identity and indigenous culture is the focus of this horror drama, set in Victorian England. With its unique blend of history, culture, and horror, Mārama is a film that will leave you unsettled and intrigued.
Dir: Taratoa Stappard
Cast: Ariāna Osborne, Toby Stephens, Umi Myers, Erroll Shand, Jordan Mooney, Evelyn Towersy, Mihi Te Rauhi Daniels, Turia Schmidt-Peke
89 mins · 2026 · Australia, United States of America · Cert 15 · English, Maori
IMDb 6.0/10 · Metacritic 79/100 · TMDB 6.4/10 · Trakt 65%
Awards: 5 wins & 5 nominations total
Are you ready to experience a chilling tale of retribution and self-discovery? Mārama, a gothic horror film set in Victorian England, tells the story of a young Māori woman who uncovers her horrific colonial heritage and seeks to confront the Englishman responsible for devastating her family. The film is directed by Taratoa Stappard and features a talented cast, including Umi Myers, Ariana Osborne, and Toby Stephens.
With a runtime of 89 minutes and a certificate 15 rating, Mārama is a horror drama that blends elements of mystery and suspense. The film has received critical acclaim, with a 100% positive review rate on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 79/100. Viewers have also praised the film's atmospheric and unsettling tone, as well as the lead performance.
The film will be screened at the Curzon Canterbury Westgate in Canterbury on Monday, 7 December 2026. Tickets are with the button beside the article. With its unique blend of history, culture, and horror, Mārama is a film that will leave you unsettled and intrigued. The film's scores include an IMDb rating of 6.0/10, a TMDB rating of 6.4/10, and a Trakt rating of 65%. Mārama has also won several awards, including 5 wins and 5 nominations.
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What viewers say
bäversvans · 7/10
Maori folk-ish but mostly gothic horror with so much hard contrast and classic imagery I half expected a vampire twist. Great performance by the lead. Some very good scenes. Great atmosphere and overall good exposition. A little uneven but well worth a watch.
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KY81 · 9/10
Brilliant 👏 👏. been wanting to watch this for awhile. suspenseful, mysterious, shocking, disturbing and macabre; everything i love in a horror/movie. The main character is believable and an awesome actress. As a māori from NZ and being aware of her family, I am not surprised of the talent she possesses.
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NealZ · 8/10
Wow, what an experience. This movie has been sitting in my head ever since I watched it, and I can’t really shake it off. I went in not expecting anything at all, and what I got was phenomenal. It blends history, culture, and horror in a way that feels natural, not forced, and somehow manages to be both a period piece and completely modern at the same time. The colonial themes hit hard, but the film never feels like it’s lecturing you. It simply…
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FLY_ · 6/10
A half Maori woman goes to England after a letter talking about her family history. But on arrival the guy is dead, and his boss welcomes her. We then slowly learn some indeed dark family secrets. But who is Thomas Boyd actually ? Is he a guy we see killed in a flashback ? Why would he write to her and make her come? Was it real and [spoiler]Cole killed him for that[/spoiler] ? Was he collaborating? Was [spoiler]Cole the one that actually made…
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