White people pretty much ruined everywhere they settled. It’s fun to note you can get a similar feel for this no matter what continent you pick. Today, we are in New Zealand, where Māori culture -thankfully- still thrives, but more often than not because most white people can’t find New Zealand on a map. Otherwise, it ain’t for lack of trying.
The year is 1859. Trains and boats are how we cover long distances. It has taken months, but English woman Mary Stevens (Ariāna Osborne) sails at least two oceans to learn more about somebody named Thomas Boyd. Who is he? And what’s he to her? Mary received a letter promising details. We find her pulling to Wellington where the horror show begins. Thomas Boyd is dead. However, the source of the addressed letter to her insists that his child needs a governess and, hey, you’re not doing anything for the next few years, are you?
Immediately, Mary starts having visions. Bloody figures, ghostly spectres. That creepy hut surrounded entirely by an area of hedges ain’t likely to be any better, but it sould give her a clue as to what is going on. How is Mary connected to the Māori, and why do we care? And how is possible to 
throw a creepy black-tie ball?
Mārama is not terribly nuanced for a film that wants to be clever. The evil is front-and-center as is the malevolent plot. The film wants to be a mystery, but what’s mysterious are the details, not the agenda. The film offers goth, blood, and Māori sympathy, all of which will find a certain niche audience. The issue is the film isn’t terrible good at any of these. The best gimmick is the hedge-sheltered hut, but once inside, you might find it cliché more than eye-opening.
This is a film I wanted to like from a uniqueness POV. However, the 19th century holds many better takes than this one. And waiting for Mary to discover what she needs to becomes a bit tedious, despite the thrifty 89-minute runtime. I am curious to see what writer/director Taratoa Stappard could do with a genuine budget.
There was once a young woman named Mary
In New Zealand with all she could carry
The summon letter she read
Rendered moot, subject dead
But that’s just the onset of what she’ll find scary
Not Rated, 89 Minutes
Director: Taratoa Stappard
Writer: Taratoa Stappard
Genre: Look at what you jerks did to New Zealand
Type of being most likely to enjoy this film: Kiwi historians
Type of being least likely to enjoy this film: Natives
