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Poster for The Dead Lands

The Dead Lands

2014 · 1h 48m · R Action, Adventure
Directed by Toa Fraser

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Overview

Hongi, a Maori 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, Hongi’s only hope is to pass through the feared and forbidden “Dead Lands” and forge an uneasy alliance with a mysterious warrior, a ruthless fighter who has ruled the area for years.

Director and cast

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes

Top critics, in their words

All reviews
Fresh

It feels like a typical action movie that's been sawed off and sanded down - its blunt edges sharpened, its soft center drained out. It's not particularly original, but it is mean, relentless, and bracing.

Bilge Ebiri, New York Magazine/Vulture
Fresh

A fable about New Zealand's indigenous Maori people before the arrival of European settlers, "The Dead Lands" values entertainment over archaeology.

Martin Tsai, Los Angeles Times
Fresh

Action fans will enjoy the fight scenes while the rest of us may find the film perversely interesting from a socio-anthropological perspective.

Bruce Demara, Toronto Star
Rotten

Honor and shame are frequently announced concerns in the story, and the staginess recalls Mr. Fraser's experience as a theater director.

Nicolas Rapold, New York Times
Fresh

Once you get past an awkward and artificial beginning and roll with the movie's crazy rhythm, The Dead Lands is also a blast, and one that delivers an unexpected emotional wallop along with gore, thrills and spectacular scenery.

Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com

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