Rod and Dave are mates and Rod has pledged to Dave that in the event of his death he will feed his body to the crocodiles. Dave, of course, kicks the bucket, so Rod fulfils the blood-drenched funeral rite for his departed mate. However, things go horribly wrong when Rod is discovered by an angry tour boat operator with a bunch of tourists on a crocodile spotting expedition! This short film won an AFI award for its screenplay.

This film version of Gordon Graham's play was probably the most notable independent Australian film of 1998, nominated for thirteen AFI awards and winning four, including those for best director and adapted screenplay (by playwright Stephen Sewell). The Boys' story was erroneously suggested as being based on a true story (denied by both Graham and director Woods), but the film nevertheless feels plausible as it follows the working-class Spragg family over one day, after the violent and unpredictable Brett Spragg's (Wenham) release from prison.

Critics may have done The Boys a disservice by labelling it the "most shocking film of the year", when it depends less on Geoffrey (Romper Stomper) Wright-style fast-paced visual effects and graphic violence, and more on a thoughtful, subdued tone that emphasises the Spragg family and their relationships to each other. One of the film's real strengths is that it doesn't let preaching get in the way of character.