Ayah, Aku Mau Cerita.... Review: Danial Rifki's Drishyam Remake

This Ayah, Aku Mau Cerita.... review looks at Danial Rifki's Indonesian remake of the Indian thriller Drishyam. It is a long, talky crime drama about a father who will do almost anything for his family. Vino G. Bastian leads a cast that gives the familiar story a local flavour.

The film opens in Indonesia on 20 August 2026 and runs for a long 166 minutes, according to our known facts. Other listings disagree on the runtime, so check your cinema's schedule.

Ayah, Aku Mau Cerita.... Review: The Story So Far (No Spoilers)

The plot centres on Andi Budiman, an ordinary man living in a village. When his family runs into serious legal trouble, he faces a threat far bigger than anything in his daily routine. He has no money, no lawyer and no power, only his wits and a head full of movie plots.

On the other side stands a relentless police official who wants answers. The film sets up a patient cat-and-mouse game in which a protective father tries to keep his household safe. Rifki wrote and directed the film, and it is adapted from Drishyam (2015).

Fans of the original will know the outline. Newcomers can go in fresh, and we will not spoil where the story goes from here.

What Works in Ayah, Aku Mau Cerita....

The strongest asset is the premise, which is a smart one. A man who learned about crime and cover-ups from films is a hook that suits a crime thriller, and it gives the film a playful streak under the tension.

Critics who have seen it point to a solid script that stays tense from start to finish. One reviewer calls it a love letter to cinema, praising how it ties the lead character's performance to the act of filmmaking. That idea gives a well-worn story a pleasing extra layer.

Another reviewer rates it four out of five and says it stays faithful to the spirit of Drishyam. That matters, because the source material is loved for its clever structure. The Indonesian setting adds a village backdrop and family dynamics that feel grounded.

If you like slow-building crime movie reviews with a moral puzzle at the centre, this is the sort of film that fits.

Ayah, Aku Mau Cerita.... Cast and Performances

The Ayah, Aku Mau Cerita.... cast is led by Vino G. Bastian as Andi Budiman. He carries the film as an everyman whose calm masks a great deal of worry. The role asks for warmth, cunning and quiet fear, and the part suits a star with his screen presence.

The main supporting players are:

• Marsha Timothy as Iriana

• Niken Anjani as Marini

• Ziva Magnolya as Aisha

• Pritt Timothy as Karim

• Gunawan Sudradjat as Salman

The family roles are the emotional engine here. A story like this only works if you believe these people would protect one another, and the cast sells that bond. We have limited detailed notes on individual scenes, so we will keep our praise to the film's overall character dynamics rather than specific moments.

Where Ayah, Aku Mau Cerita.... Stumbles

Length is the obvious issue. At 166 minutes, the film tests patience, and one Letterboxd reviewer calls it a bit dragging in several parts and says it could be trimmed. A tighter edit would sharpen the suspense.

The direction also draws some criticism. One reviewer feels Danial Rifki has not yet mastered dramatization and finds the climax too weak in style, especially in shot choices. For a thriller that depends on a big payoff, that is a real concern.

There is also the familiar-story problem. If you know Drishyam, you will meet few surprises. The film leans on its local colour and performances to justify the retelling.

Is Ayah, Aku Mau Cerita.... Worth Watching?

Yes, mostly. If you enjoy patient crime dramas and a good family-versus-the-law setup, it is worth the ticket. Reception so far is mixed to positive, with Letterboxd averaging 3.55 out of 5 from 627 ratings.

The film's heart is a likeable lead, a clever premise and a love for movies. Its weaknesses are pacing and a climax that some find underpowered. Go in prepared for nearly three hours and a story that rewards attention.

If you want more tense stories with a puzzle, browse our mystery movie reviews. You can also read our take on another recent Indonesian release, Para Perasuk. For background on the film and its credits, see the TMDB page for the film.

Who Will Enjoy Ayah, Aku Mau Cerita....

• Fans of Drishyam who want to see how it translates to an Indonesian village setting.

• Viewers who like slow-burn crime thrillers driven by character and cleverness.

• Moviegoers who enjoy stories that celebrate cinema itself.