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Generally speaking, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels largely exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.

Impressive Rhythm and Character Growth

Among this movie's strongest strengths is its excellent pacing. It begins using a striking initial scene where a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a van plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the disaster struck.

In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough opportunity to get to know the primary personalities before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has understandably led to a falling out among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and he enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. This household patriarch is her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly tense.

Engaged in the Conflict

I became so invested with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot I was watching a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film depicting viewers who each family member represents, and how they add to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing traits enabled the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently introduces individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a real shock when things finally go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial sequences of the party and various family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to making a sudden shift into "holy shit" territory. These early scenes aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to settle into the setting prior to everything gets upended.

Original Infection Source

This movie also offers a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the movie devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this condition produces on people proves absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and are practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.

Resourceful Personalities

Even better compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are a few examples of dubious choices (like any typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.

Realistic Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This makes those instances where these individuals express appreciation for each other seem far more sincere.

Predictable Ending

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're effective frights, and since the film gives each character enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining