Trailer Trashin’: Maori Martial Arts Action in The Dead Lands
Sorry for missing last week, dear readers, but I was so busy with work and other commitments that I had to let the column fall by the wayside. But I’m determined to not let that become a habit, and I’ve got something really cool for you this week. In this installment of Trailer Trashin’, I’m taking a look at the upcoming New Zealand action film The Dead Lands.
Premise: After his tribe is slaughtered through an act of treachery, Hongi (James Rolleston), the teenage son of a Maori chieftain, must avenge his father’s murder in order to bring peace and honor to the souls of his loved ones. Vastly outnumbered by a band of villains led by Wirepa (To Kohe Tuhaka), Hongi’s only hope is to pass through the feared and forbidden Dead Lands and forge an uneasy alliance with the mysterious Warrior (Lawrence Makoare), a ruthless fighter who has ruled the area for years.
Note: This is a red band trailer, which means it can only play in theaters with R-rated movies and therefore is not appropriate for those under the age of seventeen. This trailer contains plenty of violence and a decent amount of blood and gore, so it is definitely Not Safe for Work.
My Take: I hadn’t even heard of the Māori-language martial arts action film The Dead Lands before seeing the trailer. The film had its world premiere at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival, and was selected as the New Zealand entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at this year’s Academy Awards, but was not nominated. Now a red band trailer for The Dead Lands has debuted ahead of its stateside release, and it looks like it could be really cool.
The cast is made up of New Zealand actors who are mostly unknown over here, unless you’re someone who follows the NZ film scene. For me, the main draw of the cast is Lawrence Makoare as the mysterious Warrior. Makoare is best known for playing various orcs and other monsters in both The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, although he also appeared in the James Bond film Die Another Day (2002) and the Netflix series Marco Polo last year. This looks like a great role for him, and one where he doesn’t have to be buried under tons of creature makeup.
For me, the thing that really impressed me about this trailer is the action. The Dead Lands is a showcase for Mau rākau, a martial art based on traditional Māori weapons. While we tend to associate the term “martial arts” with only the fighting arts of eastern Asia, it really covers combat disciplines from all over the world, from Brazilian capoeira to French savate. I really like how kind of primal this trailer feels, with these brutal, down and dirty fights taking place in this beautiful, untouched landscape.
All in all, this trailer did a great job of selling me on the film. I’m always on the lookout for a good lower-profile action film, and this looks like it could fit the bill. I definitely want to check out The Dead Lands when it’s released stateside in April.
ANTICIPATION: My interest is very much alive.
Starring: James Rolleston, Lawrence Makoare, Rena Owen, Te Kohe Tuhaka, Xavier Horan, Raukura Turei, and George Henare
Director: Toa Fraser
Writers: Glenn Standring
P.S. This past Friday also brought us the sad news of the death of actor Leonard Nimoy, who passed away at his home in Los Angeles from end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He was 83 years old, and is survived by his widow Susan Bay and his children Adam and Julie. While he was best known as Mr. Spock in the Star Trek franchise, he also starred in two seasons of the original Mission: Impossible TV series, hosted the documentary series In Search of…, and had a recurring role on the sci-fi series Fringe, among many other projects. He left an indelible mark on film and television, and helped create one of the most iconic characters in modern science-fiction. My thoughts and prayers go out to Mr. Nimoy’s family and friends.
Timothy Monforton
