Twelve-year-old Robin is in turmoil following the death of his mother. This is when she appears, an amorous intruder threatening to invade his home and bewitch his dad. This darkly sexual and mysterious woman appears hell-bent on becoming the children s stepmother something young Robin refuses to accept. Encouraging him all the way is his best friend Larry, a foul-mouthed Iago to Robin s Othello. Larry s always on hand with a scary comic book or urban legend to further goad Robin in his murderous beliefs. But there is far more to both Larry and the intruder than meets the eye. Thus begins Robin s inextricable path toward insanity and murder. Using innovative visual techniques, director Balaji K. Kumar keeps us guessing with this slick and haunting Oedipal tale, 9 LIVES OF MARA, which speaks to our darkest fears of madness and malevolence.