Mama snaps and cries just like her beloved crocodiles in this brilliant Indonesian suspense thriller.

Johan’s overbearing mother starts to spiral when she learns of his affection for new-in-town Arumi. When the isolated world she’s built inside their run-down crocodile farm is threatened, Mama starts to mimic the creatures she shares such a strong bond with.

The expression ‘crocodile tears’ refers to insincere sorrow or remorse, stemming from the animal’s biological reaction to shed tears while devouring its prey. Strangely enough, the same teeth crocodiles use to bite into their prey are used to cradle their young.

Director Tumpal Tampubolon’s suspenseful and thrilling feature debut explores the emotionally complex relationship between a mother and son, and the toxicity of authoritarian parenting. Johan never asked for this life; neither did Mama. But the two share an intimate relationship within their scarcely visited crocodile farm in West Java. When Johan gets a taste of life outside, Mama’s manipulation slowly reveals itself.