Shudder has been at the forefront of introducing its subscribers to a wealth of fantastic foreign films and television series, featuring perspective and stories we don’t normally have the chance to experience in the US. I’m happy to report that their latest series continues that trend by featuring a unique take on traditional fantasy tropes.

Welcome to Aoteroa, the mythical setting of Shudder’s new supernatural fantasy adventures series, The Dead Lands. This is a New Zealand before time, when Māori people live in tribes and their shaman leaders decipher the ways of their gods.

The series is notable for featuring authentic Māori customs and traditions with an entirely Māori cast and heavy Māori involvement through every aspect of production. The result is a fantasy series that feels fresh and exciting and shows the importance of diverse voices in genre. It’s great to see underrepresented people taking the spotlight here and telling their own stories.

In episode one, “Tell the Dead I’m Coming,” we learn that the connection to the afterlife has been closed by the dead for mysterious reasons. This means that anyone who dies—human or animal—comes back angry and dangerous. They’re faster and wilder than mere zombies.

Mehe Te Wehiwehi (newcomer Darneen Christian) is the strong-willed daughter of her tribe’s leader who goes on a mission to recruit the most badass warrior in Aoteroa to get to the bottom of the whole Pet Sematary-like, dead-not-staying-dead-then-attacking-the-living problem. That badass warrior turns out to be Waka Nuku Rau (Te Kohe Tuhaka, “Monster Problems”), who’s just died but his ancestors send him back to find redemption. While he hasn’t been zombified, he is a bit of an anti-hero who reluctantly agrees to help Mehe. They return to Mehe’s tribe, only to find them under attack and her brother Rangi eager to order everyone to flee from the village.

Episode two, “The Sins of the Father,” focuses on Mehe’s tribe reconnecting with her uncle’s tribe. Here, we expand the world and watch tribal politics unfold as the people of Aoteroa grapple with how best to deal with their returning dead problem. The debate revolves around sacrificing the young…which doesn’t really set well with Mehe.

This isn’t necessarily a funny show, but humor comes organically once Waka and Mehe begin bonding. Both actors are immediately likeable and compelling. But the highlight so far is Waka’s charismatic dead mother.. She’s an enigmatic and mysterious character who attempts to steer Waka from the afterlife, but also warns him, “They lie. The dead. Even more than the living,” so I’m not quite sure how much we can trust her.

And then there’s actor/musician Jordi Webber, who some might recognize as one of the leads on Power Rangers Ninja Steel, as Mehe’s brother Rangi. Maybe I’m just thirsty, but I greatly enjoy his screen presence and look forward to seeing more of him.

The Dead Lands was filmed in New Zealand and there’s a reason so many fantasy series from Xena: Warrior Princess to the Lord of the Rings franchise are filmed there. It’s absolutely gorgeous. Yet here, it’s somewhat understated. Yes, the land is beautiful, but it’s filled with dangers. Likewise, the action scenes aren’t glamorized; there’s no slow-motion or extreme close-ups of gore. Brutal, bloody fight scenes are shot in an efficient, matter-of-fact fashion. It’s very refreshing.

Overall, this is a fantastic start to a series. It sets up some engaging mysteries and gives us charismatic characters that ooze chemistry. Sure, some of the fantasy elements feel familiar, but at the same time the perspective and mythology put me in uncharted territory. It’s exciting to see. I’m already starting to connect with Waka and Mehe, and I’m curious to see where their story goes from here.

The Dead Lands is set to run for eight episodes, with the first two releasing on Shudder in the U.S., Canada, UK, and Ireland on January 23, with following episodes releasing the next six Thursdays.

The Dead Lands