Blood, identity, and revenge collide in the haunting first trailer for Mārama.

The genre-bending Gothic horror film marks the feature debut of Māori writer-director Taratoa Stappard—and it’s already shaping up to be one of the most visually striking and emotionally charged horror releases of the year.

Set in 1859 Victorian England, Mārama follows a young Māori woman who is summoned from New Zealand to North Yorkshire. What begins as a journey into her past quickly turns into something far more sinister. As she uncovers the truth about her family’s colonial trauma, she’s driven down a violent path of reckoning—one that puts her face-to-face with the Englishman responsible for destroying her bloodline.

The film blends Gothic horror with historical trauma, creating a story that’s as unsettling as it is personal.

Ariāna Osborne leads the cast, joined by Toby Stephens (Die Another Day), Umi Myers (Bob Marley: One Love), Erroll Shand (Chief of War), Jordan Mooney (The Bluff), Mihi Te Rauhi Daniels, and Turia Schmidt-Peke.

Behind the scenes, the film is produced by Sharlene George alongside Rickylee Russell-Waipuka, Rouzie Hassanova, and Paraone Gloyne, with executive producers including Victoria Dabbs, Gal Greenspan, Jill Macnab, Phil Bremner, Badie Ali, Hamza Ali, and Greg Newman.

Mārama has already made waves on the festival circuit, premiering at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival before screening at Fantastic Fest, Sitges, AFI Fest, and the Palm Springs International Film Festival.

The film hits select theaters on April 17, opening at the IFC Center in New York and Laemmle theaters in Los Angeles.

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