We have a film that starts with a chase and a kill using
primitive Maori weapons. What a cool way
to get a movie going! "The Dead Lands" takes place around the 16
th century in New Zealand, prior to any
European exploration. Two tribes have a
long running truce until someone defecates on an ancestor’s skull(literally). Without their chief present, Wirepa(Te Kohe
Tuhaka) is representing his tribe and he
is ready for war. Wirepa frames the film’s
hero Hongi(James Rolleston), who is the son of the rival tribe’s chief(George Henare). The chief does everything he can to get out
of going to war but Wirepa is insistent.
Wirepa and his tribe attack Hongi’s people at night
killing off all men except Hongi who, during the attack, ends up at the bottom
of a cliff. The next day, Hongi sees the
aftermath and decides he needs revenge. Hongi
has a vision in his sleep of his grandmother(Rena Owen) and she offers advice
within the dream. He tells her he will
go where no one dares go, to the Dead Lands where it is said there is a man,
possibly a monster, does not welcome outsiders and eats people. It is
then that Hongi decides he will recruit the warrior from the Dead Lands to
assist him in his quest to find Wirepa.
