Stars: James Rolleston, Lawrence Makoare, Te Kohe Tuhaka, Xavier Horan, Raukura Turei, George Henare, Rena Owen, Pana Hema Taylor, Calvin Tuteao, Jamus Webster, Bianca Hyslop, Isabella Rakete, Matariki Whatarau, Wairangi Koopu, Jeff Ruha | Written by Glenn Standring | Directed by Toa Fraser
Hongi (James Rolleston) – a Māori chieftain’s teenage son – must avenge his father’s murder in order to bring peace and honour to the souls of his loved ones after his tribe is slaughtered through an act of treachery. Vastly outnumbered by a band of villains, led by Wirepa (Te 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.
I actually found The Dead Lands really entertaining. Not only is the film filled to the brim with crazy Māori fight sequences which look brutal and realistic,...
Hongi (James Rolleston) – a Māori chieftain’s teenage son – must avenge his father’s murder in order to bring peace and honour to the souls of his loved ones after his tribe is slaughtered through an act of treachery. Vastly outnumbered by a band of villains, led by Wirepa (Te 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.
I actually found The Dead Lands really entertaining. Not only is the film filled to the brim with crazy Māori fight sequences which look brutal and realistic,...
- 6/8/2015
- by Richard Axtell
- Nerdly
Action adventure The Dead Lands is in UK cinemas this weekend. Director Toa Fraser talks about its making and how James Cameron’s a fan...
A taut and intense action adventure, The Dead Lands is a superb showcase for director Toa Fraser. It provides an insight into a culture not often explored on screen - set in pre-colonial New Zealand, the film’s dialogue is entirely in the Maori language - while delivering the kind of pared-back revenge story you might expect from a western or a samurai film.
In other words, The Dead Lands is both unique to its country and universal; its historical setting and subtitles might suggest something for the arthouse crowd, but its bruising fight scenes will please the action crowd, too. What’s more, James Cameron is officially a fan.
As The Dead Lands makes its debut in UK cinemas, we caught up with Toa Fraser...
A taut and intense action adventure, The Dead Lands is a superb showcase for director Toa Fraser. It provides an insight into a culture not often explored on screen - set in pre-colonial New Zealand, the film’s dialogue is entirely in the Maori language - while delivering the kind of pared-back revenge story you might expect from a western or a samurai film.
In other words, The Dead Lands is both unique to its country and universal; its historical setting and subtitles might suggest something for the arthouse crowd, but its bruising fight scenes will please the action crowd, too. What’s more, James Cameron is officially a fan.
As The Dead Lands makes its debut in UK cinemas, we caught up with Toa Fraser...
- 5/28/2015
- by ryanlambie
- Den of Geek
“A powerful and gripping tale of revenge” and “A powerful and primal coming of age story that’s an absolute adrenaline rush” are just some of the words of praise Peter Jackson and James Cameron have respectively given "The Dead Lands." The three-time New Zealand Film And TV Award-winner is landing stateside, and today we have an exclusive look at the bloody opening sequence of the film. Read More: King Of The World: The Films Of James Cameron Directed by Toa Fraser, and starring James Rolleston, Lawrence Makoare, Te Kohe Tuhaka, Xavier Horan, George Henare, Raukura Turei, and Rena Owen, the story follows a Maori chieftain's teenage son who must avenge his father's murder in order to bring peace and honor to the souls of his loved ones after his tribe is slaughtered through an act of treachery. But it won't be easy going and this opening scene shows the...
- 4/24/2015
- by Edward Davis
- The Playlist
Rick Grimes and and the living dead of Robert Kirkman's comic book world get a new look from artist Gilbert Hernandez in the Wizard World Las Vegas variant cover art for The Walking Dead #1. Also featured in our latest round-up are release details for The Lazarus Effect Blu-ray, as well as the trailer for The Dead Lands.
Variant Cover for The Walking Dead #1: Press Release - "Las Vegas, April 13, 2015 -- Wizard World, Inc. (Otcbb: Wizd) and Skybound, Robert Kirkman’s imprint at Image Comics, today announced that Love & Rockets creator Gilbert Hernandez has drawn the seventh in a yearlong series of Limited Edition Exclusive Variant Covers of The Walking Dead #1 comic, to be provided free to all full-price attendees at the inaugural Wizard World Comic Con Las Vegas, April 24-26. Skybound’s The Walking Dead created by Kirkman, the groundbreaking, Eisner Award winning comic book series, continues to captivate audiences worldwide.
Variant Cover for The Walking Dead #1: Press Release - "Las Vegas, April 13, 2015 -- Wizard World, Inc. (Otcbb: Wizd) and Skybound, Robert Kirkman’s imprint at Image Comics, today announced that Love & Rockets creator Gilbert Hernandez has drawn the seventh in a yearlong series of Limited Edition Exclusive Variant Covers of The Walking Dead #1 comic, to be provided free to all full-price attendees at the inaugural Wizard World Comic Con Las Vegas, April 24-26. Skybound’s The Walking Dead created by Kirkman, the groundbreaking, Eisner Award winning comic book series, continues to captivate audiences worldwide.
- 4/13/2015
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Robert Kirkman's All Out War story arc from The Walking Dead comic book series packs the panels with blood-soaked action, but it also features intriguing characters aplenty, and the folks at Diamond Select Toys have captured some of the characters from All Out War and other memorable story lines with The Walking Dead Minimates Series 7, including Rick, Jesus, and Negan. In our latest round-up, we also take a look at the respective trailers and release details for The Reconstruction of William Zero and The Dead Lands.
The Walking Dead Minimates Series 7: Priced at $119.88 as a group and at $9.99 apiece, The Walking Dead Minimates Series 7 are now available from Diamond Select Toys:
"A Diamond Select Toys release! The newest series of Walking Dead Minimates is here, and this time it’s war! Featuring characters from more recent issues of the hit comic book series, this assortment...
The Walking Dead Minimates Series 7: Priced at $119.88 as a group and at $9.99 apiece, The Walking Dead Minimates Series 7 are now available from Diamond Select Toys:
"A Diamond Select Toys release! The newest series of Walking Dead Minimates is here, and this time it’s war! Featuring characters from more recent issues of the hit comic book series, this assortment...
- 4/7/2015
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
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...
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...
- 3/4/2015
- by Timothy Monforton
- CinemaNerdz
The Dead Lands
Written by Glenn Standring
Directed by Toa Fraser
New Zealand, 2014
Cinema rarely looks to events of a pre-biblical vintage, but a mini-genre of pre-civilisation survival pictures does exist for those who pray to the old ones. The first instance of this primitive return to our roots which spears our interest was Clan of the Cave Bear, mysteriously directed by frequent Scorsese cinematographer Michael Chapman. More recently Kevin Reynolds took us on a adventure to Easter Island with Rapa Nui, and Roland Emmerich’s credibility was crushed with 10,000 BC, whilst the more seriously minded Nicolas Winding Refn added his brooding masculinity to the genre with his monosyllabic Valhalla Rising. Perhaps the highest profile film in the prehistoric swaps of survival is Mel Gibson’s brutal Apocalypto, which seemed to have been culled from the video game techniques of peril and boss fights rather than the historical archive of the local Natural History museum,...
Written by Glenn Standring
Directed by Toa Fraser
New Zealand, 2014
Cinema rarely looks to events of a pre-biblical vintage, but a mini-genre of pre-civilisation survival pictures does exist for those who pray to the old ones. The first instance of this primitive return to our roots which spears our interest was Clan of the Cave Bear, mysteriously directed by frequent Scorsese cinematographer Michael Chapman. More recently Kevin Reynolds took us on a adventure to Easter Island with Rapa Nui, and Roland Emmerich’s credibility was crushed with 10,000 BC, whilst the more seriously minded Nicolas Winding Refn added his brooding masculinity to the genre with his monosyllabic Valhalla Rising. Perhaps the highest profile film in the prehistoric swaps of survival is Mel Gibson’s brutal Apocalypto, which seemed to have been culled from the video game techniques of peril and boss fights rather than the historical archive of the local Natural History museum,...
- 10/8/2014
- by John
- SoundOnSight
Exclusive: Xyz Films and General Film Corporation has sold North American rights of the Toronto Film Festival film The Dead Lands to Magnet Releasing. The New Zealand-set action-thriller was directed by Toa Fraser, scripted by Glenn Standring and produced by Matthew Metcalfe and Standring. James Rolleston, Lawrence Makoare, Te Kohe Tuhaka, Xavier Horan, George Henare and Rena Owen star. Magnolia’s Magnet will release in theaters next year and the deal was brokered by Magnet’s Peter Van Steemburg and Xyz’s Nate Bolotin.
Pic was shot in Auckland and the central North Island of New Zealand. Rolleston stars as a Maori chieftain’s teenage son who must avenge his father’s murder in order to bring peace and honor to the souls of his loved ones after his tribe is slaughtered through an act of treachery. Vastly outnumbered by the band of villains, Hongi’s only hope is to...
Pic was shot in Auckland and the central North Island of New Zealand. Rolleston stars as a Maori chieftain’s teenage son who must avenge his father’s murder in order to bring peace and honor to the souls of his loved ones after his tribe is slaughtered through an act of treachery. Vastly outnumbered by the band of villains, Hongi’s only hope is to...
- 9/17/2014
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline
Exclusive: Toa Fraser’s action-thriller sells to UK, Germany and China, among others.
Xyz Films has closed a raft of deals led by a UK sale to Icon Film Distribution on The Dead Lands, already seen by press and industry and received its world premiere on Sept 4.
Rights have also gone to Ascot Elite for Germany, Movies Inspired for Italy, Fabula Films for Turkey, Falcon for the Middle East and Hgc for China. The Jokers previously acquired rights for France.
Toa Fraser’s New Zealand-set action-thriller is based on a screenplay by Glenn Standring, who produced with Matthew Metcalfe, Norman Merry and Tainui Stephens.
The film was shot on location in Auckland and the central North Island of New Zealand and follows a chieftan’s son who sets out to avenge his father’s murder.
James Rolleston from Boy stars alongside Lawrence Makoare, Te Kohe Tuhaka, Xavier Horan, George Henare and Rena Owen.
Ian Dawson at [link...
Xyz Films has closed a raft of deals led by a UK sale to Icon Film Distribution on The Dead Lands, already seen by press and industry and received its world premiere on Sept 4.
Rights have also gone to Ascot Elite for Germany, Movies Inspired for Italy, Fabula Films for Turkey, Falcon for the Middle East and Hgc for China. The Jokers previously acquired rights for France.
Toa Fraser’s New Zealand-set action-thriller is based on a screenplay by Glenn Standring, who produced with Matthew Metcalfe, Norman Merry and Tainui Stephens.
The film was shot on location in Auckland and the central North Island of New Zealand and follows a chieftan’s son who sets out to avenge his father’s murder.
James Rolleston from Boy stars alongside Lawrence Makoare, Te Kohe Tuhaka, Xavier Horan, George Henare and Rena Owen.
Ian Dawson at [link...
- 9/9/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Now playing to enthusiastic public and industry audiences at the Toronto International Film Festival after playing to five and even six star reviews in its home country New Zealand, where it grossed $2 million, "The Dark Horse" (Isa: Seville/eOne) is a provocative, emotionally charged drama about a man who searches for the courage to lead, despite his own challenging mental health issues, and who finds purpose and hope in passing his gift for speed chess to the children in his gang-dominated community.
This film is being hailed as one of the greatest New Zealand films of all time. Seeing that (aside from "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy), there have not been many films playing widely outside of New Zealand since the unprecedented, trend setting and career building "Once Were Warriors", this film is well overdue and widely welcomed by the international film world.
The lead actor, Cliff Curtis ("Training Day","Whale Rider", "Once Were Warriors", "Three Kings") was initially not sure he wanted to work on this film and did not trust the producer, and writer-director, nor were they sure of him to play the part of a man so physically unlike Curtis. They spoke many times about the story, the role, so unlike any Curtis had ever played. When Curtis told James that he thought the key to the character of Genesis was Love, James felt that perhaps he could play the role, but then he would have to gain weight (Curtis inhabits a tight, muscled, lean body and Genesis was more of a big bear of a man, weighed 300 pounds, was missing front teeth). And he would have to method act to create the image of Genesis as James wanted to depict him. The concept of love however bound the team in a united effort to make the movie work. It is no surprise that the word Curtis used to describe what kept the film going was Aroha, which in Maori means Love. Cliff put himself at risk, playing such a role which, if it failed to deliver, could ruin his career, and trust was necessary for everyone in undertaking to tell this story. After many conversations and then after seeing "I'm Not Harry Jenson.", Curtis agreed to make the movie.
Over the six week shoot, the family and friends of Genesis visited the set, watched dailies, saw the editing; the spirit of Genesis hovered over the production, and even over its world premiere in Toronto, where Genesis' widow and their three year old son; the child actor, Wayne Hapi, and Xavier Horan who plays Jedi were present.
Also always present during the shoot, and even today, was chess and the love of the game. Genesis himself, once a local chess champion, derailed by mental illness that kept him in institutions until he was released into the care of his gang-member brother who lived in a gang-dominated society, used the game of chess as a spiritual talisman to transcend his earthbound world through love of people and of the game.
Director James Napier Robertson played chess but Curtis did not. However, he learned quickly, coached by chess master, Milton Green, and by Genesis' own chess mates! Jedi and Noble. Everyday hundreds of games were being played on the set. They still are all playing!
"The Dark Horse" was written and directed by James Napier Robertson and produced by Tom Hern, who previously worked together on "I'm Not Harry Jenson.", a micro budgeted whodunit thriller which played to full houses at their home country's New Zealand International Film Festival where it also garnered strong reviews. This team of two went on to make a short, "Lambs", which played at Clermont Ferrand, Berlin, Melbourne and Raindance, and to produce two more feature films films under the banner of their own production company, Four Knights backed by Autralasian entrepreneurs who cane aboard after seeing "I'm Not Harry". Both features have been released theatrically in New Zealand, the fragile meditative drama, "Everything We Loved" and "The Dark Horse", the emotionally charged drama inspired by the colorful true life of bi-polar suffering-Maori-speed-chess-playing genius, Genesis Point.
Tom saw a documentary in 2003, also called "Dark Horse" on TV about Genesis which deeply moved him. With so many families wracked with mental illness, including his own, Tom felt he had to turn Genesis' story into a feature film. He and James worked three years on the script, keeping the authenticity of the story by staying in close touch with Genesis and his friends and chess mates and family. As James wrote, he was conscious of wanting to capture Genesis's spirit and spoke a lot with Genesis and the other people in his community. Unfortunately, Genesis himself died very unexpectedly during the first year of work. He was very articulate about his illness and was a great storyteller, self-taught in religious and spiritual texts and practices; he was a deeply spiritual man.
This film is being hailed as one of the greatest New Zealand films of all time. Seeing that (aside from "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy), there have not been many films playing widely outside of New Zealand since the unprecedented, trend setting and career building "Once Were Warriors", this film is well overdue and widely welcomed by the international film world.
The lead actor, Cliff Curtis ("Training Day","Whale Rider", "Once Were Warriors", "Three Kings") was initially not sure he wanted to work on this film and did not trust the producer, and writer-director, nor were they sure of him to play the part of a man so physically unlike Curtis. They spoke many times about the story, the role, so unlike any Curtis had ever played. When Curtis told James that he thought the key to the character of Genesis was Love, James felt that perhaps he could play the role, but then he would have to gain weight (Curtis inhabits a tight, muscled, lean body and Genesis was more of a big bear of a man, weighed 300 pounds, was missing front teeth). And he would have to method act to create the image of Genesis as James wanted to depict him. The concept of love however bound the team in a united effort to make the movie work. It is no surprise that the word Curtis used to describe what kept the film going was Aroha, which in Maori means Love. Cliff put himself at risk, playing such a role which, if it failed to deliver, could ruin his career, and trust was necessary for everyone in undertaking to tell this story. After many conversations and then after seeing "I'm Not Harry Jenson.", Curtis agreed to make the movie.
Over the six week shoot, the family and friends of Genesis visited the set, watched dailies, saw the editing; the spirit of Genesis hovered over the production, and even over its world premiere in Toronto, where Genesis' widow and their three year old son; the child actor, Wayne Hapi, and Xavier Horan who plays Jedi were present.
Also always present during the shoot, and even today, was chess and the love of the game. Genesis himself, once a local chess champion, derailed by mental illness that kept him in institutions until he was released into the care of his gang-member brother who lived in a gang-dominated society, used the game of chess as a spiritual talisman to transcend his earthbound world through love of people and of the game.
Director James Napier Robertson played chess but Curtis did not. However, he learned quickly, coached by chess master, Milton Green, and by Genesis' own chess mates! Jedi and Noble. Everyday hundreds of games were being played on the set. They still are all playing!
"The Dark Horse" was written and directed by James Napier Robertson and produced by Tom Hern, who previously worked together on "I'm Not Harry Jenson.", a micro budgeted whodunit thriller which played to full houses at their home country's New Zealand International Film Festival where it also garnered strong reviews. This team of two went on to make a short, "Lambs", which played at Clermont Ferrand, Berlin, Melbourne and Raindance, and to produce two more feature films films under the banner of their own production company, Four Knights backed by Autralasian entrepreneurs who cane aboard after seeing "I'm Not Harry". Both features have been released theatrically in New Zealand, the fragile meditative drama, "Everything We Loved" and "The Dark Horse", the emotionally charged drama inspired by the colorful true life of bi-polar suffering-Maori-speed-chess-playing genius, Genesis Point.
Tom saw a documentary in 2003, also called "Dark Horse" on TV about Genesis which deeply moved him. With so many families wracked with mental illness, including his own, Tom felt he had to turn Genesis' story into a feature film. He and James worked three years on the script, keeping the authenticity of the story by staying in close touch with Genesis and his friends and chess mates and family. As James wrote, he was conscious of wanting to capture Genesis's spirit and spoke a lot with Genesis and the other people in his community. Unfortunately, Genesis himself died very unexpectedly during the first year of work. He was very articulate about his illness and was a great storyteller, self-taught in religious and spiritual texts and practices; he was a deeply spiritual man.
- 9/8/2014
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
The 39th Toronto International Film Festival has announced its initial slate of galas and special presentations, which includes 37 world premieres and several films with Oscar ambitions. The Judge, which stars Robert Downey Jr. as a big-city lawyer who reluctantly returns home and ends up defending his revered father (Robert Duvall) against criminal charges, will have its world premiere in Toronto. His Avengers pal, Chris Evans, will unveil his own directorial debut in Toronto, titled Before We Go.
Also noteworthy: James Gandolfini’s final film, The Drop, which also stars Tom Hardy and Noomi Rapace; another Jason Reitman Toronto world premiere,...
Also noteworthy: James Gandolfini’s final film, The Drop, which also stars Tom Hardy and Noomi Rapace; another Jason Reitman Toronto world premiere,...
- 7/22/2014
- by Jeff Labrecque
- EW - Inside Movies
The Toronto International Film Festival announced its initial wave of 2014 premieres and galas this morning and it features some familiar awards titles, some big stars and some unexpected studio titles. Among the major studio films, David Dobkin's "The Judge" with Robert Downey Jr. and Antoine Fuqua's "The Equalizer" each received gala slots and should premiere over the festival's opening weekend. Other announced galas so far include Bennett Miller's acclaimed "Foxcatcher," which debuted at Cannes, and Mike Binder's "Black and White" starring Kevin Costner, Octavia Spencer and Anthony Mackie. Toronto has also scheduled special gala screenings for David Cronenberg's "Map to the Stars" with Julianne Moore and Robert Pattinson, François Ozon's "The New Girlfriend," Ed Zwick's "Pawn Sacrifice" with Tobey Maguire, Lone Scherfig's "The Riot Club," Jean-Marc Vallée's "Wild," Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano's "Samba" and Shawn Levy's "This is Where I Leave You...
- 7/22/2014
- by Gregory Ellwood
- Hitfix
Exclusive: Xyz Films has licensed French rights to Wild Side on its upcoming Maori combat project heading into the Efm.
Toa Fraser (pictured) is currently in production in New Zealand on The Dead Lands.
Xyz holds world rights excluding Australia and New Zealand and will show early footage to buyers in Berlin as part of a dynamic genre slate that includes Kevin Smith’s Tusk.
The Xyz Films principals told ScreenDaily they expect The Dead Lands to raise the profile of Maori hand-to-hand combat in the way their action franchise The Raid has done for the southeast Asian Silat martial art.
Glenn Standring wrote the screenplay about the vengeful son of a Maori chieftain who must enter the forbidden Dead Lands and forge a pact with the mysterious “Warrior” to avenge his slain tribe.
James Rolleston of Boy fame stars alongside Lawrence Makoare, Te Kohe Tuhaka, Xavier Horan and Once Were Warriors cast members George Henare and Rena Owen...
Toa Fraser (pictured) is currently in production in New Zealand on The Dead Lands.
Xyz holds world rights excluding Australia and New Zealand and will show early footage to buyers in Berlin as part of a dynamic genre slate that includes Kevin Smith’s Tusk.
The Xyz Films principals told ScreenDaily they expect The Dead Lands to raise the profile of Maori hand-to-hand combat in the way their action franchise The Raid has done for the southeast Asian Silat martial art.
Glenn Standring wrote the screenplay about the vengeful son of a Maori chieftain who must enter the forbidden Dead Lands and forge a pact with the mysterious “Warrior” to avenge his slain tribe.
James Rolleston of Boy fame stars alongside Lawrence Makoare, Te Kohe Tuhaka, Xavier Horan and Once Were Warriors cast members George Henare and Rena Owen...
- 1/27/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
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