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Generally speaking, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.

Superb Rhythm and Character Growth

One of the film's greatest assets lies in the superb pacing. It begins using a striking opening sequence where a calm family gathering is violently disrupted when a vehicle plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household prior to the tragedy struck.

Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and he loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. The family head is her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly strained.

Invested in the Drama

I became so engrossed with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, but in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of the film to showing us the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled the audience to relate with the characters enough to care about their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre that often presents individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, so it's a real shock when things eventually deteriorate.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy prior to taking an abrupt shift into shocking territory. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting before everything gets turned upside down.

Original Infection Origin

The film also offers a fairly interesting explanation regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a new batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While we do learn something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the effect this affliction has on people is utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.

Capable Personalities

Even better compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are a few instances of questionable choices (like any any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights as death nears.

Realistic Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, this proved a welcome authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values 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 decide over the phone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This makes those instances when these characters express appreciation for each other feel much more sincere.

Stereotypical Ending

Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are successful scares, and since the film allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining