The Dead Lands

What’s it about?

A rangatahi Māori named Hongi embarks on a journey into forbidden lands, where he joins forces with a mysterious warrior to avenge his father's death and bring peace to his people's spirits.

The facts

• Directed by Toa Fraser
• Stars Te Kohe Tuhaka, James Rolleston, Lawrence Makoare, Darneen Christian
• Māori language
• Runtime: 103 minutes

Why did it get this rating?

This film was classified by Te Mana Whakaatu, Classification Office. You can find out more about classification process and ratings here.

Graphic violence

This film includes graphic violence and cruelty, with fight scenes between tribes that result in serious physical injuries to characters and in some cases death.

Characters are stabbed with blunt weapons including taiaha or mere – loud cracking noises can be heard, and some blood detail is shown.

Some of the strongest moments of violence include:

• The beheading of a character
• A male character breaks a female character’s neck
• A character hacks at a dead man’s arm

Cannibalism is discussed and is shown in detail in two scenes, one involving characters drinking blood from someone’s throat.

When content stays with you:

We all have our boundaries, and it’s completely okay if something you’ve watched is weighing on your mind. If certain content lingers with you, consider having a chat with friends or whānau to debrief about what you’ve just seen. But if you’re still feeling affected, please reach out to any of the following helplines for support.

• 1737
• Safe to talk
• Lifeline
• Youthline

Further information

• Why are ratings and content warnings important for me and my whānau?