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Generally speaking, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems largely depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.

Superb Rhythm and Character Development

Among the film's strongest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family party is violently disrupted when a vehicle plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family prior to the tragedy struck.

In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has understandably caused a rift between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and who loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. This household patriarch is her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two things: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly strained.

Engaged in the Conflict

I became so invested in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime to showing us who each family member is, and how they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled the audience to connect to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare feat in a genre which frequently introduces characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a real shock when things eventually go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor before taking a sudden shift toward "holy shit" ground. These early moments don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to settle into its world prior to everything gets upended.

Original Zombification Source

The film also offers a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this affliction produces on people proves absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and they're almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.

Capable Characters

More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some instances of dubious decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find rather than standing still like a deer in headlights as death nears.

Realistic Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, which was a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals express appreciation toward one another feel much more sincere.

Stereotypical Ending

Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight about family or community, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are successful scares, and since the movie gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and entertaining