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For the most part, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels mostly depleted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.

Superb Pacing and Personal Development

One of this movie's greatest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a striking initial scene where a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family prior to the tragedy struck.

Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough time to become acquainted with the primary characters before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch is her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his business and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly tense.

Engaged in the Drama

I found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every relative represents, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities allowed me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently presents characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise when things finally go wrong.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The opening sequences of the party and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy before taking an abrupt shift into shocking territory. These early scenes don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough time to immerse in the setting prior to it gets upended.

Unique Infection Source

The film also offers a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although some background is provided something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited background, the impact this affliction produces on humans is absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very realistic, and are practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.

Capable Characters

More impressive than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are a few instances of questionable decision-making (as in any good undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like prey caught in lights as death nears.

Believable Familial Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, which was a welcome authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals express appreciation toward one another feel far more genuine.

Stereotypical Ending

In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering frights. Yet these are successful frights, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is an engaging and entertaining