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Typically, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels largely exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.

Excellent Pacing and Personal Development

One of this movie's greatest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence where a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a van plows into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household prior to the tragedy struck.

Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. This household head consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two aspects: his business and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly strained.

Invested in the Drama

I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime to showing us the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on clashing personalities allowed me to relate with the characters enough to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, so it's a genuine surprise once events finally deteriorate.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy before taking an abrupt turn into shocking territory. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to settle into the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.

Original Zombification Origin

The film additionally presents a fairly interesting reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the film devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of background, the effect this affliction produces on people proves absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and are practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.

Resourceful Personalities

More impressive than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of dubious decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like a deer in headlights while danger nears.

Believable Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude for each other seem far more genuine.

Predictable Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're effective frights, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable