Randolph Zaini made his comeback with a new sensational Indonesian horror film entitled A Woman Called Mother. His latest work tells a story about a woman who becomes both mother and monster at the same time, generating suspense through a clichéd and familiar plot.
In this work, the mother’s transformation is shown indirectly. There is only one flashback scene in which Yanti (Artika Sari Devi) breaks down as her husband leaves her. The scene shows Yanti’s psychological breakdown clearly.
After two years of living in depression, Yanti brings her children, Vira (Aurora Ribero) and Dino (Ali Fikry), to their new strange house. Everything feels creepy and frightening for Vira, especially her mother’s behavior.
When Vira notices her mother’s unsettling behavior and sees her perform a strange ritual in the bathroom, she tries to understand what her mother did before leaving their old house. However, everything feels increasingly odd to Vira, especially when Uncle Mal (Khiva Rayanka) suddenly disappears one morning.
The story feels intense through its gestures, emotions, and details. Artika’s performance as both mother and monster is oddly satisfying. Her strange gestures, the way she walks and speaks, make it seem as if she is possessed.
There are not many gory scenes in the film, but there is one moment that feels especially cruel: when Yanti slashes Dino’s eyes, leaving him completely blind.
In an hour, this film feels like it has a fast-pacing plot. But, the story is actually slow-burn. It takes so long to understand what is going on and the scenes when Vira and Dino take several videos is too many. The tension is high, but the plot remains very familiar: the revenge of a woman against men after being abandoned by her husband. This predictability reflects a common hallmark of Indonesian horror films, which often revolve around themes of revenge.
In an unwise execution, this film slightly romanticizes and normalizes the use of “susuk” to complete the revenge of a woman towards men just because she experienced something bad. Despite its familiar narrative and problematic execution, A Woman Called Mother remains effective in building atmosphere and emotional tension.
The film relies heavily on performance and mood rather than narrative innovation, making it unsettling to watch even when the story feels predictable. Ultimately, this film stands as an example of Indonesian horror that works well on a sensory level, but hesitates to move beyond the comfort of its long-established formulas.
Our Score: 7,5/10
Title: A Woman Called Mother / Dia Bukan Ibu
Director: Randolph Zaini
Producer: Raam Punjabi & Amrit Punjabi
Production House: MVP Pictures
Casts: Artika Sari Devi, Aurora Ribeiro, Ali Fikry
