Talk us through itTwo sisters, Nola and her younger sibling Naera, are playing in the bush and get into some good old hide and seek action. Naera hears some pretty freaky voices and we get some Japanese style mist as she is taken by something unseen. Nola can't find her sister and also hears voices but luckily escapes before any supernatural shenanigans can go down. Years later Nola is leading a pretty humdrum existence in Auckland City, cleaning toilets and not quite having enough to pay the rent, she still feels guilty for the disappearance of Naera. Nola starts seeing visions of her younger sisters, and what we assume to be a revenant starts taking toll on those making Nola's life a living hell. With the police closing in Nola is left with only one option, an enigmatic ending ensues. Ready to walk the path of Maori mythology?
Review"You know, the elders believed there were fairy people in the forest" - KoroAnd your lesson for the day; the Patupaiarehe are a sort of forest fairy people out of Maori mythology who seem to be both mischievous and not adverse to snatching the odd errant person who falls under their sway. Stories exist of people having disappeared in the bush who turn up years later not having aged a day, courtesy of the Patupaiarehe. Well guess this is about as a good a place as any to start ScaryMind's first episode guide. On the basis of The Sisters Mataku looks likely to be a superb series exploring Maori myth and religious belief, I'm certainly looking forward to the rest of the season already. The Sisters kicks things off in quite some style with Director Robin Walters reminding me ever so much of Sam Raimi circa Evil Dead. Add in an excellent script by Carey Carter and you know you are in good hands and likely to have that all too infrequent chill running down your spine at some stage during Mataku's first season. Lets leap off the bluff at Te Rerenga Wairua and break it down. Director Walters starts the first episode in quite some style and is channelling Sam Raimi like a wild night out on Karangahape Road. The visuals are washed out, greens and greys, with some sepia tinting to denote we are talking either something that has happened in the past or a flash back scene. Walters has the innocence of two sisters going down and lulls the audience into a false sense of security before unleashing one hell of a good atmosphere and some chills. The younger sister, Naera, hides behind a fallen tree trunk while Nola searches in vain. Walters injects discordant voices to start the chill factor and simply loved his use of mist to provide the only clue the audience are going to get that something is coming. I was immediately put in mind of Evil Dead 2 and Walters didn't disappoint with the rushing camera effect closing in on Naera as she turns, sees something, and screams. How's that for an opening, I was giving it a standard ovation and ringing Tew to endorse an All Black selection for Director Walters. There's no denying Director Walters has the style layered on as he dictates every single moment of his opening scene in a highly emotive display of early Sam Raimi style chills in the native bush. We next cut to Nola in bed at home while, I guess, a sort of exorcism is going down. Great expressions on the faces of the witnesses to what ever the ceremony is. Writer Carter has skilfully injected the scene not only to give the audience a full expose as to the supernatural elements in play, but also to hint that at least in her father's eyes Nola is guilty of Naera's disappearance. This is reinforced later in the episode and is crucial to a decision made at the resolution, nothing is left field in The Sisters. Having established the premise for the episode Walters does an excellent job in cutting to a modern city pub in a down market area. The switch from traditional Maori instruments to modern infusion rock with the cut is simply outstanding. Walters doesn't need to explain things he allows a few background images to do his work for him. You get the situation without the Director neon signposting it. Holy hell team we are actually talking a Director who respects his audience, and does so on a television show! Pigs have just taken wing over the frozen tundra of hell. Did I phone Tew already? Walters goes about his business quietly and without intruding on The Sisters, in particularly I liked two aspects of the Director's work. Firstly the flashbacks, the episode has a few, that are shown in washed out greens with an almost surreal feel to them, at the time I didn't quite get what Walters was aiming for. This is in stark contrasting to the "current" scenes that are all sharp angles and glaringly lighted. The Director also introduces two antagonists early to have some fodder for our revenant. We have "the Admirer" who meets a fiery end, and Trevor the sleazoid landlord who does a high dive off Nola's apartment block. To be honest we aren't that sad to see either of them go, good work there by Walters and the respective actors. Walters also handles the supernatural elements well, adding just the right ethereal touch to proceedings. Nola arrives home, she's pissed as the Director films at an angle, and proceeds to rip up a photo of herself and Naera. With things hitting rock bottom Nola prepares to go for a high dive herself before being called back by Nola's "ghost". The ripped up photo is back in the apartment and once again in a pristine state. I simply love a Director prepared to suggest things and play subtle rather than hammering the audience in the head with a sledgehammer approach to get his/her point across. 
Just when we think we have things worked out, Nola isn't the full quid and is suicidal, Walter throws a bouncer at us with the final scene that somehow makes Naera last line, "thank you Patupaiarehe", slightly chilling. I'll leave it up to the reader to make their own judgement on what Writer Carter and Director Walters are implying as the closing credits come up. Was it all a dream, are the Patupaiarehe more powerful than first thought, or is it a final faze out from reality? Mamaengaroa Kerr-Bell (Nola) is simply stunning in the role and nails "the once were warriors" style of vibe going down. She may be as tough as nails but Kerr-Bell also brings out the vulnerable side of Nola. Nari Guthrie (Naera) is holding her own with the adults and could well be the next big thing out of Kiwiland, keep an eye on her name. Gordon Hatfield (the Admirer) is expert at putting across the aggressive and dangerous inner city Maori bloke, not a big role here but I was believing. And finally Stephen Lovatt (Trevor) knows how to play it sleazy, Lovatt just exuded slime. No T&A folks, it's not the type of show. Guess we can give this section of reviews the flick for upcoming episodes. Hirini Melbourne provides the traditional Maori instruments that are used effectively through out The Sisters, while Taisha Khutze performed the haunting "For Eternity" that effectively bookmarks the episode.
Summary ExecutionI dived into the first episode of Mataku wondering what I was in for, New Zealand after all isn't exactly noted for it's output of horror television shows. A surprise was waiting for me with a rock solid opening act in The Sisters, and you get the feeling that Mataku is going to be finding it's feet real soon based on Director Walters work here. I've now watch the episode three times and am still in awe at how much can be done with how little, The Sisters is boxing well beyond it's weight.If you park your bum Down Under then Mataku is available as a two DVD set covering thirteen episodes that I assume comprises season one. Your best bet for scoring a copy might be one of the Kiwi online stores, mine came via mightyape.nz.co, but do a google to find the best price. Each epiode is introduced by the excellent Temuera Morrison and you have the option at the end of an episode of watching an interview with the Writer and Director highlighting the background to the story they have just told. While quite a bit of dialogue is in Maori there's pakeha subtitles helpfully provided to keep us white guys up to speed. If still needing help there's a Maori glossary in the extras. Add in a whole bunch of production stills and you have a pretty well rounded package to be going on with. I'm throwing a full recommendation on The Sisters: Nga Tuahine, televised horror doesn't get much better, at least Down Under. If you like suggestive horror coming at you with a Sam Raimi edge then you are in the right episode. If you don't like this one then the Patupaiarehe must have got away with tour taste.
ScaryMinds Rates this episode as ... Excellent start to the series and I would have liked to give a higher mark but have the notion that
things are going to get a whole lot more in subsequent episodes. Supernatural tales of this class don't come around that often, dive in folks.
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