Step into the shadowy side of Aotearoa with three unforgettable films that reveal a country as unsettling as it is beautiful. From the rural gothic chills of THE SCARECROW (1982), to the twisted psychological horror of JACK BE NIMBLE (1993), and the cultural reckoning of THE CROOKED EARTH (2001)

THE SCARECROW (1982)

A haunting blend of gothic melodrama, psychological thriller, and coming-of-age tale, THE SCARECROW is one of New Zealand’s most acclaimed films, based on the classic novel by Ronald Hugh Morrison.

When 14-year-old Ned wakes to find his chickens stolen, a seemingly minor mystery spirals into something far darker. Hundreds of miles away, a teenage girl is found murdered, and the trail leads to Hubert Salter: magician, predator, and killer. His twisted obsession? Ned’s sister, Prudence. As evil closes in, Ned and Prudence must confront the truth no one else dares to see in a town that would rather look away.

JACK BE NIMBLE (1993)

Abandoned as children and raised apart, Jack (Alexis Arquette) and Dora (Sarah Smuts-Kennedy) are siblings bound by a psychic connection, and a haunting past.

Dora, gifted with telepathy, searches for Jack, who has escaped from years of abuse at the hands of his adoptive parents. But Jack is no longer the boy he once was. Tormented and vengeful, he’s on a path of destruction, pursued by the monstrous foster sisters who want him back. As the siblings race to reunite, their reunion will unleash forces both human and supernatural, in a world where innocence is lost, and monsters wear many faces. A cult classic of New Zealand gothic cinema, JACK BE NIMBLE is a twisted, emotionally charged journey into the heart of darkness.

CROOKED EARTH (2001)

When Will Bastion (Temuera Morrison) returns home to bury his father, a respected Maori chief, he’s drawn into a community on the brink of upheaval. His brother Kahu (Lawrence Makoare) has claimed leadership, stirring unrest with radical ideas and a dangerous vision for the future. As ancient customs clash with modern struggles, Will must decide where he stands; between tradition and change, family and justice.

In a land divided, leadership comes at a price, and peace is far from guaranteed. CROOKED EARTH is a gripping exploration of cultural conflict, legacy, and the fight for a people’s soul, set against the stunning backdrop of Aotearoa.