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Typically, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems largely depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.

Superb Rhythm and Character Development

One of the film's strongest assets is its superb rhythm. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence where a calm family gathering is violently interrupted when a vehicle plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is then followed by a look back, allowing us to observe the family before the disaster occurred.

In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift between the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and who enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch is her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.

Engaged in the Conflict

I found myself so invested in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot this was a horror film—which might seem like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing traits allowed the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat for this style which frequently presents individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a real shock when things eventually deteriorate.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The opening sequences from the gathering and various family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before making a sudden shift toward "holy shit" territory. These early moments don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough time to settle into the setting before everything gets turned upside down.

Unique Infection Origin

This movie also offers a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this condition has on people proves absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and are practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.

Capable Personalities

More impressive compared to the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are a few instances of dubious choices (like any any good undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument is available rather than freezing like prey caught in lights while danger approaches.

Realistic Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a close location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters express gratitude for each other feel far more genuine.

Predictable Ending

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight about family or society, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're successful scares, and since the movie gives each character enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and entertaining