The Dead Lands

Te reo action movie The Dead Lands joins New Zealand's short list of pre-Pākehā screen dramas. James Rolleston (Boy) stars as Hongi, the son of a Māori chief. After the massacre of his tribe, he sets out into the forbidden Dead Lands, hoping to enlist the help of a legendary warrior (Crooked Earth's Lawrence Makoare). The Anglo-Kiwi co-production marked new screen territory for director Toa Fraser (No. 2) and writer Glenn Standring (Perfect Creature). After debuting at the 2014 Toronto Film Festival, The Dead Lands topped the Kiwi box office and won three Moa awards. A Dead Lands TV series followed in 2020.