Grimmfest’s Grim Tidings from Taratoa Stappard

Victorian Gothic horror takes on a very different perspective in Marama, the debut feature from Maori writer-director Taratoa Stappard, which arrives at Grimmfest following an impressive journey around the international festival circuit.

Set in England in 1859, the film stars Ariana Osborne as Marama, a young Maori woman who travels to Yorkshire after receiving a mysterious letter promising information about her parents. Her search takes her to Hawkser Manor and into the household of Nathanial Cole, played by Toby Stephens, where questions surrounding her ancestry and identity become entwined with something altogether more sinister.

Born in Aotearoa New Zealand and now based in London, Stappard has described Marama as the first in a planned trilogy of Maori Gothic horror stories. His debut feature uses the traditions of period Gothic storytelling to confront colonialism, cultural erasure and the historical treatment of indigenous people, while turning some of the genre’s most familiar conventions on their head.

Following its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2025, Marama has travelled extensively around the world. Now, with the film making its way to Grimmfest ahead of its UK cinema release, we asked Stappard to face our five Grimm Tidings questions.

Grimmfest’s Grim Tidings from Taratoa Stappard, Writer-Director of ‘Marama’

Tell us why you are at Grimmfest.

I’m a writer-director and having made seven short films, Marama is my debut feature film. It’s a Maori gothic horror, set in Victorian England, 1859. Since the world premiere screening at TIFF in September last year, Marama has played in 46 festivals in 20 countries winning 15 awards. And now I’m very happy it has been selected for Grimmfest!

How did you get into horror?

When I was first writing Marama I imagined I was going to be making a heavy drama. But the more I researched into the colonisation of Aotearoa New Zealand, the more I realised my story was a horror. I embraced the idea of defining Marama as the first ever Maori gothic horror film – and I’m so glad I did, because the people I’ve met at brilliant genre / horror festivals around the world have been some of the most enthusiastic, engaged and positive audiences.

What scares you the most?

That’s easy: spiders. I have arachnophobia.

Who or what is your favourite horror character?

Probably Ripley in Alien (1979).

I will never forget going to watch it with my dad at the local Odeon cinema in Macclesfield. The film blew my impressionable young mind. And Sigourney Weaver was a character unlike any I had seen before. Ripley was/is the best.

What is the grimmest thing you have ever seen?

In 1989 I took my wife (then girlfriend) to watch The Vanishing (1988). It was meant to be a date night out. We left shattered and traumatised. She didn’t forgive me for a long, long time. More recently (last month), I watched The Spiral (L’Estranea) by Paolo Strippoli. Aside from it being a kind of beautiful masterpiece, it was also emotionally devastating. And seriously grim. Highly recommended.

More from Grimmfest

Marama screens at Grimmfest at the Odeon Great Northern on Saturday 10 October at 4.45pm, giving audiences the chance to experience Taratoa Stappard’s Maori Gothic horror on the big screen ahead of its UK cinema release on 11 December.

Keep checking Love Horror throughout Grimmfest for more Grimm Tidings, as we put our five questions to the filmmakers, actors and horror favourites descending on Manchester for this year’s festival. We’ll also be bringing you interviews, reviews and more coverage direct from Grimmfest throughout the weekend.