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For the most part, I've grown tired of zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category seems largely depleted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved quite entertaining.

Superb Pacing and Personal Development

One of the film's strongest assets lies in the superb pacing. It begins using a striking opening sequence in which a calm family gathering is violently disrupted when a vehicle plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see this household prior to the tragedy occurred.

In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly strained.

Engaged in the Drama

I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime depicting viewers who each family member is, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities allowed the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat for this style that often introduces individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, so it's a genuine shock when things eventually go wrong.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The opening scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor before making an abrupt turn into "holy shit" ground. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting prior to it gets upended.

Unique Zombification Source

This movie additionally presents a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the movie devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to producing a deadly potion that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the impact this condition produces on people proves absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and are almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.

Capable Characters

Even better compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some instances of questionable choices (as in any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object is available instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights as death nears.

Realistic Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another feel far more sincere.

Stereotypical Ending

Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. But they're successful scares, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and enjoyable