Ātaahua (2027)
Director: Waka Wikaire-James
Cast: Tinorawe Hawkins, Paris Tuimaseve-Fox, Sarah Lawrence, Quinn Le Cren, Grace Hoete
Did you know? In the film, the Māori name "Hinenui Te Pō" refers to the goddess of death, who traditionally ushers spirits into the underworld, adding a deeply cultural layer to the horror. The gallery setting was inspired by a real, secluded Auckland art space where the director once had a eerie encounter with a painting that seemed to follow him.
Why Watch: Forget predictable horror: "Ātaahua" is a hauntingly beautiful journey where grief meets the Māori goddess of death, Hinenui Te Pō, in a quiet art gallery. This profound short film redefines terror through poetic visual storytelling and raw emotion, offering a cathartic meditation on mortality that lingers long after the credits roll. Watch it for a uniquely Aotearoa take on the supernatural that feels more like a sacred encounter than a scare.
A solitary man searching for comfort within the walls of an art gallery finds not peace, but a direct encounter with death itself—the towering, inescapable presence of Hinenui Te Pō.