Original subtitles

[PATU SCRAPES]

The dead,

they sigh to me.

[GRUNTS]

They tell me to seek a warrior...

[GRUNTS]

...more monster than man.

[GROWLS]

And only he can help me save my people.

[TENSE MUSIC]

What is it that I'm to do for your tribe?

The dead took my father. Save him, and I'll give you my blood.

- Father. [PANTS] - [SNARLS]

- Kill me. - [GRUNTS, SOBS]

[PATU WHACKS]

Your uncle's a shaman of great power.

He's hiding something.

[ROARS]

Mehe, I loved father as much as you,

but he did not have Uncle's strength.

You call it strength.

Get away from them! He wants to sacrifice our children.

- [GRUNTS] - [GRUNTS]

You should have killed me.

There is a boy held captive by three sisters -

powerful witches. Find this boy.

You see, he knows the name of the one who broke the world.

I'll exorcise the spirit from the boy.

You'll get your name.

- [SCREAMS] - What is your tribe?

DISTORTED: Maiki! We are Maiki.

The Maiki are creatures who serve Whiro.

So it's not just the dead we fight, but a god too.

- Who broke the world? - It was my father.

Te Kaiporangi Turoa.

Did you know that it was my father who broke the world?

It's your destiny to heal the world.

And cut that man's throat and offer his blood to the gods

for what he did to me, for what he did to us.

[TENSE MUSIC]

Stay... here with us.

I feel something in you I've not felt before.

You know she has a gift, she's your peer.

Yes, a student, not a tohunga yet.

I'm not a shaman; you're right.

But since this has happened, the spirits sigh to me.

We can go down there.

- [ROARS] - [ALL SCREAM]

[DEAD WARRIOR SNARLS]

[CHILDREN SCREAM]

I'll warn you a final time.

Don't go to my father's pa. You won't like what you find there.

You will go to the Great Pa and confront your father.

And cut his throat.

No.

Be careful, Waka Nuku Rau.

You stand on the edge of a precipice.

Not only you, but the girl.

Why is Mehe so important to you?

Not important to me.

But she'll be very important to your father.

[TENSE MUSIC]

[INSECTS, BIRDS CHIRP QUIETLY]

[INTRIGUING, BROODING MUSIC]

All of you,

listen to me.

Such...

mighty toa -

great warriors in the making.

But a strong arm is nothing...

compared to the world of the spirit.

[DISTANT ROARS]

Taniwha hunt

these forests.

This is their place.

[TENSE MUSIC]

Tonight...

they'll hunt you.

Run.

[TENSE, BROODING MUSIC]

[CHILDREN BREATHE HEAVILY]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

Down. Down.

We'll build a stronghold - defend it.

No. We've just trained in Karo - how to evade the enemy.

- So? - This is a test.

We need to make ourselves harder to find.

- We need to evade. - Evade my shit, Waka.

What do you know? We fight together.

Together we're stronger.

[INSECTS CHIRP]

I'm better off alone.

Let the bastard draw the monsters away.

[TENSE, SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]

[PANTS SOFTLY]

[INSECTS CHIRP]

[HISSING, SNARLING]

[GASPS SOFTLY]

[LOW GROWLING]

- [GASPS] - [BOY SCREAMS IN DISTANCE]

[LOW GROWLING]

- [ROARS] - [SCREAMS]

[BOY SCREAMS IN DISTANCE]

[HISSES, GROWLS]

[BREATHES HEAVILY]

[BOY SCREAMS IN DISTANCE]

[TENSE, BROODING MUSIC]

[ROARING]

[OMINOUS, BROODING MUSIC]

[GRUNTS]

[BREATHES HEAVILY]

Look. There.

You're the sons of chiefs,

but even one of my lowly bastards is better than you all.

I won. Didn't I, Father?

[GRUNTS]

I'm not your father.

I just sired you, boy.

- But Father... - [BOTH GRUNT]

Father.

[GRUNTS]

[GASPS, BREATHES HEAVILY]

Captions by Able. www.able.co.nz

So you think you can return the world to the way it was?

- Seems impossible. - So we should just give up

and leave the world like this for the children?

And the only way is to go north to this pa?

- Isn't it? - No.

You're not going.

You were the one that wanted me to go.

There's food here, and most of the dead are gone.

Stay with your people. Let me have some peace.

- And the world? - Fuck the world.

- No. - Do what I tell you.

Do what you should do, and take me.

I'm not taking you to that shit-eating pa.

[BIRDS CHIRP]

[GRUNTS, BREATHES SHARPLY]

[GROWLS, CRIES OUT]

Ha!

I've become soft looking after you.

Never depend on others;

always rely on the strength of your own hand.

Now, are you ready to train...

and be ready for the dead?

Or are you happy to fill their bellies?

Last chance before I go.

[BREATHES SHARPLY, HEAVILY]

- Karo. - [TAIAHA WHACKS GROUND]

You must learn to evade blows as well as deliver them. [GRUNTS]

Lighter on your feet, like I showed you.

[GRUNTS, HISSES]

- You've returned, haven't you? - Where?

Where do you think? The Afterlife.

- If I have, are you jealous? - [GASPS]

The dead told you something. That's why you won't take me.

They said that you're unimportant to me,

that you'll only cause me trouble.

- Liar. - [PUFFS, HISSES]

- [PANTS] - [GRUNTS]

You need to look after yourself.

- I'm not your father. - Thank the gods,

and that someone like you never had children in the first place.

[INHALES SHARPLY]

You're hiding something. Admit it!

I can feel your shit-eating eyes on me.

I'm not taking her.

So leave me be.

[UNSETTLING MUSIC]

- What do you want? - The truth.

What are you talking about now?

- You've protected this girl... - Mehe.

...as if she was one of your own,

treated her better than you treat me - your own mother.

And now you want to leave her behind. Why?

- She's annoying. - Liar.

What do you care? You wanted me to cut her throat

or have you forgotten?

You're not planning something. You never were very subtle.

But is it something foolish? That's what I want to know.

I'm not the fool. You are.

She is,...

thinking you could put the world right.

You know my father better than anyone

and what he's capable of.

And that's why, the moment I see him,

I'm going to kill him.

First heal the world,

then kill. Not before.

Do you really think anyone could convince that man

to undo anything,

to fix anything?

Make your heart cold, Mother,...

like usual.

Forget about the promise of glory.

Think about this -

think about what's within reach.

His blood.

I can almost taste it.

Every time he beat me,...

every time he humiliated me...

and worse... to you.

Much worse.

This is our chance -

could be our only chance to catch him unaware.

Because after that,

who knows what sorcery or trickery he'll use?

Yes.

The world - perhaps we'll find another way.

Do it. Kill the bastard for what he did.

And when you drink his blood, speak of me,

so that I can savour it too.

Your father?

Now you know.

And you never thought to tell me?

What difference would it have made -

you knowing that I was sired by that man?

- It doesn't. I'm still coming. - I'm not taking you.

- Why? - He's a monster.

He'll eat you alive.

I can look after myself.

Once you said you took whatever you wanted when you wanted it.

And that you were a bad man. That's what you said.

And you said you wanted to change.

Well, it's going to take some time.

No.

Be the man that you want to be,

not the man that you used to be

or the man that you think you're going to be in the future.

Be that man now.

- He'll kill me on sight. - When did you last meet?

Your age.

- So he won't recognise you. - What if he does?

Kill him. I'll help.

[TENSE MUSIC]

[CHILDREN GIGGLE]

[INSECTS CHIRP]

We'll be waiting for you.

I'm proud of you, my sister.

- Let me come with you. - No.

You need to protect them for me.

Promise.

[BIRDS CHIRP]

I don't trust you.

Do you understand me?

- I'm beginning to. - Touch her,

and I will cut off your hands -

both of them.

[TENSE MUSIC]

[TENSE MUSIC]

What is it?

I won't see them again.

Probably true.

But if we are to die,

let us not walk; let us fly.

[TENSE, MOMENTOUS MUSIC]

[TENSE, MOMENTOUS MUSIC]

That's it, isn't it?

[INTRIGUING, EERIE MUSIC]

[BIRDS CHIRP]

[EERIE MUSIC]

[EERIE MUSIC]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

Protection.

[BIRDS CHIRP]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[BREATHES HEAVILY]

[INTRIGUING, EERIE MUSIC]

[GRUNTS QUIETLY]

Promise me, don't kill anyone - not until we know.

[SIGHS]

[CHILDREN CHATTER]

[LOW, MOODY MUSIC]

It has been an age since we had something good to eat.

[INHALES SHARPLY]

And I have...

a powerful hunger.

My name is Mehe Te Wehiwehi,...

cousin of Te Hau.

Our whakapapa goes back to the first canoes

that came to this place. Our blood is one,

and we are connected through the ancestors of this land.

So get your hand fuckin' hands off me

before I have them cut off.

Pokotiwha.

[TENSE MUSIC]

Where's your father?

I am Hinengana,

mistress of this tribe.

We're distant cousins, I think.

We have news of your son.

Uri.

Is he well?

Is he coming back?

And Te Hau? And our warriors?

A war has begun...

with Whiro, god of the underworld.

And what you have done here has helped him in it.

[EXHALES] Who are you to accuse me of anything?

- He's not accusing you. - Yes, I am.

For less,

I've slit men's throats and feasted on their flesh.

You're not impressing me. I've done far worse.

Waka, stop it.

And is this any way to show us hospitality?

[LOW, MOODY MUSIC]

Tomorrow my husband, the glorious Te Kaipo,

will talk with you...

of our son and other things.

Until then, we'll see.

What happened here? Have you seen the world?

Our Earth is poisoned - the very mother that gave us life -

and we've handed it to our children.

It's Te Kaipo's fault. Admit it. He's done this.

You shouldn't say such things or it won't go well for you.

- There are things here. - What things?

Dead things.

And only our lord Te Kaipo holds them at bay,

but at great cost to himself.

It's dangerous at night. Stay inside.

Tell me about your father.

He was a famed Tohunga Ruanuku

long before I was born.

Dark sorcery.

It's said that he could kill a man just with his touch.

He used his skill to destroy the tribes around him.

He was ambitious then.

One of those tribes was my mother's.

He killed every last one of them.

But her?

She became his slave...

and watched the rest of her people become food

for his ovens.

She was beautiful then,...

on the outside.

He took her to his bed,...

and I was squatted into the world.

Not a great beginning, I admit.

But I grew strong.

He allowed me to train in the fight schools - parawhakawai.

He did you a favour, then.

It was not a favour.

He made me an example for the others.

He would beat me until my blood flowed...

to frighten the others, to amuse them.

He did it every day.

- I'm sorry, Waka. - I don't need your pity.

It's not pity.

Well, that's what it looks like.

It's aroha -

love, empathy.

You don't always have to have a cold heart, you know?

Don't I? It's served me well so far.

I don't think so.

What drivel are you talking now?

A man without a heart is only half a man -

only lives half a life.

Well, let me tell you this.

My father, he hasn't got one -

a heart.

Not that I saw.

His cruelty always has a purpose.

And tomorrow,

we'll find out what he did here and why.

Whatever it is, you won't like it.

None of us will.

[INSECTS CHIRP]

[OMINOUS MUSIC]

[BREATHES HEAVILY]

[INSECTS CHIRP]

[EERIE MUSIC]

[BIRD CALLS]

[GRUNTS]

Come any closer, and I'll cut off your cock...

[GRUNTS] ...and feed it to him.

[BIRD CALLS]

[EERIE MUSIC]

Father.

[DARK, EERIE MUSIC]

[EERIE, OTHER-WORLDLY WHISPERS]

[MUSIC STOPS ABRUPTLY]

There you are.

- Do I know you? - Not very likely.

She's always doing this. I find her in some strange places.

It's a sign...

of the gift.

Those who sleep and walk are close to the spirits.

And this place...

is very close to the spirits.

Well, we'll let the spirits rest tonight.

[DRAMATIC BASS MUSIC]

Finally. You slept like the dead.

- Do you remember any of it? - Of what?

Going to the cave, meeting my father.

I found you there with him.

Did he recognise you?

He's changed.

How?

He looks haunted.

Perhaps he finally feels guilty for everything he's done.

We give him one chance.

That's all.

Agreed?

And if he won't help...

[EERIE, CHILLING MUSIC]

[FIRE CRACKLES]

You don't know who I am? Hako!

Hako The Terrifying. Hako. [GROWLS, LAUGHS]

There he is! There. What did I tell you?

The great Waka Nuku Rau. Whoa! [CHUCKLES]

Hey. Don't believe what you've heard.

He's a good fellow.

Aue. Swore I'd never return to this place.

[SPITS, COUGHS]

But out there? [SHIVERS]

You don't wanna be out there any more.

None of us do. [SNIFFS]

Hey. Don't worry.

WHISPERS: I won't say you killed Te Hau.

Unless it's my life.

- [GROWLS, BREATHES HEAVILY] - Talk first.

You talk first! [BREATHES HEAVILY] Come, Father.

Let shit be your master and piss be your slave. [GROWLS, GRUNTS]

[ETHEREAL CHIMING]

[GROWLS] You think that's gonna stop me from beheading you?

[BREATHES HEAVILY, GRUNTS]

[CHOKES, GRUNTS]

- Still a fool, I see. - [GASPS]

I am going to cut you out of my lineage...

once and for all.

- [GASPS] - Do it, and I'll kill you.

I killed my father, and I've killed many other things,

- and I'll kill you too. - What's this?

My husband, what are you doing?

Do you have so many warriors

that you would kill one of the greatest?

- Who is he? - Waka Nuku Rau.

And my bastard.

Don't you see?

He is the answer to our problem.

How could this thing help us?

He can go into the spirit place.

Clear it.

[GRUNTS]

He'll have to fight one first to see.

- Fight who? - What...

is more the question.

[GROANS, SIGHS]

Waka! Waka!

- Everything is all right. - All right?

My head is pounding,

and it tastes like a tribe pissed in my mouth.

- What happened? - He was going to kill you,

but we made a bargain.

What have you done?

Aue. Sorry about that.

I didn't know he was your father. [CHUCKLES]

My advice - tell them to eat dung.

Or offer your blood to whichever god they want.

I promise I'll make it quick, ne?

What are you talking about, you idiot?

- He doesn't know. - Know what?

Stop talking in riddles.

The cave. You've been called to the cave.

- What fucking cave? - Where the dead are -

all the dead of this place.

You're a good fighter - you just have to show it.

He'll have to be more than a good fighter

against those things,

believe me.

[EERIE MUSIC]

Waka Nuku Rau -

saviour of the people.

Who would have thought?

The monster becomes the hero.

Open it.

[SHUFFLING]

[UNSETTLING MUSIC]

[EERIE MUSIC]

Tenei ka ingo

ki nga oha...

tupapaku.

- What is this? - MURMURS SOFTLY: Ko toko ake...

He's calling one of our kin.

Kei whakarerea morehu.

Kei kaupapa tahuri.

Kei tuwhera ko taku riu.

- [EXHALES SHARPLY] - Oho mai te tipua.

Ara mai te tuputupu.

Oi oi...

oioia mai te toki.

Oho mai te tipua.

Ara mai te tuputupu.

Oi oi...

oioia mai te toki.

[DISTANT SHUFFLING]

[HEAVY FOOTSTEPS APPROACH, GROWLING]

[ALL BREATHE HEAVILY]

[GROWLING, SNARLING]

[SNARLING]

[GROWLS, SNARLS]

He's hungry.

- They always are now. - What am I to do with it?

- [DEAD WARRIOR GRUNTS] - Kill it.

- [GRUNTS] - Why?

- Humour me. - [SNARLS]

- Just him. - [SNARLS]

I'm better alone.

And...

no weapon. That was the bargain.

[GROWLS]

[SNARLS]

[BOTH GRUNT]

[TENSE ACTION MUSIC]

- [BLOW SMACKS] - [CRIES OUT]

- [BLOW THUDS] - [GROANS]

- Evade it. Use Karo. - What do you think I'm doing?!

- [GROWLS] - [GRUNTS]

- [EXCLAIMS] - [BONES CRUNCH]

- [SNARLS] - [BOTH GRUNT]

[BOTH GRUNT]

[YELLS OUT, GRUNTS]

[DEAD WARRIOR SNARLS]

[TENSE ACTION MUSIC CONTINUES]

[GROWLS, GRUNTS]

[BOTH GRUNT]

- [SNARLS, GNAWS] - [WAKA CRIES OUT]

- [BONES CRUNCH] - [WAKA YELLS]

[BONES CRUNCHING, FLESH SQUELCHING]

Pokokohua! Pokotiwha!

[ROARS]

[BREATHES HEAVILY]

[LOW, MENACING GROWL]

[WAILS]

[BREATHES HEAVILY]

My brother.

I told you he could do it.

- What is this? - You said if he fought for you,

that you would tell us how to heal the world.

You need to clear it of the dead.

Many of them were our best warriors in life.

- Now in death... - What's inside?

There's a tear in the Earth,...

a Kapunipuni Wairua -

a gathering place for the spirits.

This one I made.

But it connects the world of the living

and the world of the dead.

Our deceased kin guard it.

Clear it, and I can begin to finish my work.

- What work? - If it can be done,...

send the dead back.

We'll go.

- Will we? - Why else are we here?

Accept it -

the bastard son...

here to fix the father's failures.

[CHUCKLES WRYLY] It's destiny.

[CHUCKLES WRYLY] It's destiny.

You could stay,...

- let him go alone. - It's true.

You'll only slow me down. I'm better off alone.

You'll slow me down, old man.

He needs me.

[LIGHT, EERIE MUSIC]

Why do these places always have to smell like death and shit?

Stay close.

We're stronger together.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

It's narrow.

We could use this - draw them here.

Make a last stand?

Make a last stand?

[EERIE, UNSETTLING MUSIC]

[GROANS SOFTLY]

- What is it? - I don't know.

There it is.

I'll take the heads.

- Kia tu. - Kia oho.

Kia mataara.

[UNSETTLING, OMINOUS MUSIC]

- Come if you dare! - [THE DEAD SNARL, GROWL]

[DRAMATIC ACTION MUSIC]

[MEN GRUNT, FLESH SQUELCHES]

[GRUNTS]

[THE DEAD SNARL, GROWL]

[GASPS, GRUNTS]

[ALL GRUNT]

Hit the tunnel! It's narrow!

[THE DEAD GROWL]

[GRUNTS]

- [STRAINS, PANTS FRANTICALLY] - [THE DEAD SNARL]

- [BLOW SMACKS] - [GRUNTS]

[BLOOD SQUELCHES, THE DEAD SNARL]

[GRUNTS]

[BLOWS THUD, BLOOD SQUELCHES]

[DISTANT SNARLS, SCREAMS]

[TENSE MUSIC]

[SNARLING STOPS]

[KNOCKING]

WAKA: Open up!

[MEHE PANTS]

All of them?

- [BREATHES HEAVILY] - So now you can heal the world.

It's my hope,

but there's much to do before that.

We need to prepare for the ritual.

And you -

perhaps you were sent here for a reason, boy.

perhaps you were sent here for a reason, boy.

[LIGHT, EERIE MUSIC]

You can hear well enough when you want to.

Ka!

Come out!

Now!

I demand it! You did this.

Did what, Waka Nuku Rau?

You brought me to this place from the start.

[GRUNTS, BREATHES HEAVILY]

- It's not luck, is it? - Could be destiny.

I don't believe in destiny. Fuck destiny.

[GRUNTS] Ah!

You knew it was my father - what he did. Even then.

- Yes. - Why didn't you say something?

- Because you weren't ready. - What shit are you talking now?

You would've run, like the dog that you were.

- [BOTH GRUNT] - Ha!

- [BLOW WHACKS HEAVILY] - [CRIES OUT IN PAIN, GRUNTS]

You were selfish.

You didn't care for anyone or anything.

[CRIES OUT]

But now you do have someone to care for and protect,...

- don't you, Waka Nuku Rau? - [CRIES OUT, GRUNTS]

[WAKA GRUNTING, CRYING OUT]

[GROANS, PANTS]

So you're saying I was dead -

that I died,...

and you resurrected me because of the girl,...

because of Mehe?

- [PANTS] - Died?

[TENSE MUSIC]

Captions by Able. www.able.co.nz