‘Mārama’ Review: Gothic Revenge Horror Channels the Fury and Grace of New Zealand’s Māori People

Ana Maria Rus

Taratoa Stappard's arresting feature debut just won top prize at the Seattle International Film Festival. Atrocities taken from real human history haven’t always been a natural fit for the horror crowd. Although scary movies have long helped people process their feelings of fear, uncertainty, and grief in real time, filmmakers who are capable of thoughtfully translating serious historic trauma into satisfying works of genre entertainment remain remarkably rare today.  That’s what makes writer/