MĀRAMA Brings Indigenous Gothic Horror to Theaters April 17

Ariāna Osborne leads a haunting journey of identity and revenge in MĀRAMA

Indigenous Gothic Horror Arrives: MĀRAMA Sets April 17 Theatrical Release

There’s a certain weight that comes with films that aren’t just telling a story—but reclaiming one. That’s exactly where MĀRAMA steps in.

Dark Sky Films, alongside Watermelon Pictures, has officially set the theatrical release for MĀRAMA on April 17, bringing one of the most talked-about festival titles to audiences in select theaters.

Written and directed by Taratoa Stappard, the film doesn’t just sit within the gothic horror space—it reshapes it. Anchored by an Indigenous Māori perspective, MĀRAMA blends historical trauma, identity, and revenge into something that feels both intimate and expansive.

Set in Victorian England in 1859, the story follows a young Māori woman, played by Ariāna Osborne, who is summoned from New Zealand to North Yorkshire. What begins as a journey quickly turns into a confrontation with a past rooted in colonial violence, forcing her to face the truth about her family’s history—and the man responsible for it.

It’s a premise that could easily lean into traditional revenge territory, but MĀRAMA appears to be operating on something deeper. This isn’t just about retribution. It’s about identity. It’s about culture. And it’s about reclaiming something that was taken.

Osborne leads a cast that includes Toby Stephens, Umi Myers, Erroll Shand, and Jordan Mooney, bringing together a mix of international talent that supports the film’s cross-cultural narrative.

Before its theatrical rollout, MĀRAMA made its presence known on the festival circuit, premiering at Toronto International Film Festival and continuing through major stops including Palm Springs International Film Festival, AFI Fest, and Sitges Film Festival. That run alone signals the kind of attention this film has already earned—and the kind of conversation it’s likely to continue.

The release also marks the first collaboration between Dark Sky Films and Watermelon Pictures, two companies now aligned under MPI Media Group, signaling a shared commitment to bold, genre-driven storytelling that doesn’t play it safe.

And MĀRAMA is anything but safe.

It’s gothic horror through a different lens—one that doesn’t just rely on atmosphere and dread, but on history, perspective, and truth. The kind of film that challenges as much as it entertains.

April 17 isn’t just another release date.

It’s a chance to experience a story that’s been waiting to be told—on its own terms.