Name: The Dead Lands
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Historical
Released: 2014
Duration: T1H47M
Cast: James Rolleston, Lawrence Makoare, Te Kohe Tuhaka, Xavier Horan, George Henare

Trailer

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Māori history is brought alive in this period action-adventure based on the traditional fighting art of Mau rākau. This Māori-language film (with subtitles) is New Zealand's entry in the Oscar foreign-language category. After his tribe is slaughtered through an act of treachery, the chieftain's teenage son Hongi (James Rolleston, Boy) must avenge his father's death in order to bring honor to the souls of his loved ones.

Outnumbered by the band of villains, Hongi's only hope is to pass through the forbidden Dead Lands and forge an alliance with the mysterious "Warrior" (Lawrence Makoare, Die Another Day). From the director of No. 2 and Dean Spanley, co-stars Rena Owen (Once Were Warriors) and former NRL player Wairangi Koopu.

2014Rating: R16, Graphic violence107 minsNew ZealandMāori with English subtitles

ActionAdventureDramaHistorical

All Reviews (13)

Director:: Toa Fraser ('Dean Spanley', 'No. 2', 'Giselle')
Writer:: Glenn Standring
Cast:: James RollestonLawrence MakoareTe Kohe TuhakaXavier HoranGeorge HenareRena OwenWairangi Koopu

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The Dead Lands / Reviews

Flicks, Steve Newall

Conventional wisdom would have you think a pre-colonial Māori action movie in Te Reo would be a suicidal commercial proposition. Then again, conventional wisdom is responsible for so much dreck littering bargain bins and has never produced the patu-wielding, arse-kicking, uniquely Aotearoan action of The Dead Lands. For many Kiwis, the period setting and Māori language elements should prove a unique enough reason to stump up for a movie ticket. For others, The Dead Lands offers proof that a well-crafted, fight-filled revenge story is the type of pic least reliant on the English language to impress, which this does in spades.

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Variety

Impressive scenery and action elevate [this] tale that is nonetheless brutal to the brink of monotony.

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Screen Daily

Energetic, glossy and exciting... doesn’t shirk when it comes to offering up bone-crunching battles and blood-thirsty martial arts scenes.

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New Zealand Herald

A Maori martial arts movie, a showcase for the taiaha and patu fighting skills of mau rakau.

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Hollywood Reporter

Toa Fraser’s dazzling action-adventure is an imaginative voyage through a time of violent emotions.

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Dominion Post

Lurid, furious, bloodthirsty fun. If you were a fan of Apocalypto... then you really need to see this.

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