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Typically, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels largely depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.

Excellent Pacing and Character Growth

Among the film's greatest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a van plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family prior to the tragedy struck.

Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough time to get to know the primary characters prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family head consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly tense.

Invested in the Conflict

I found myself so invested with this household's issues and their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime to showing viewers who each relative is, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities enabled the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare feat in a genre which frequently presents individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a real surprise once events eventually deteriorate.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The opening scenes of the party and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy before making a sudden shift toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to settle into its world before everything gets upended.

Unique Infection Source

This movie additionally presents a quite interesting explanation for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited background, the effect this condition produces on people proves utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and are practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.

Resourceful Personalities

More impressive than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of dubious choices (as in any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object they find instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.

Believable Familial Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals express gratitude for each other seem far more sincere.

Stereotypical Ending

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are successful frights, and since the film gives each character enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and enjoyable