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Generally speaking, I've grown tired of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category seems largely depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.

Impressive Rhythm and Character Development

One of the film's strongest assets lies in the superb pacing. It begins using a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family party is violently disrupted by a van plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to see the family prior to the tragedy struck.

Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough opportunity to get to know the primary personalities before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and who enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household head is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly strained.

Invested in the Drama

I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I almost forgot I was watching a horror film—something that could sound like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime to showing us who each family member is, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities enabled the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon feat for this style which frequently presents individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise when things finally deteriorate.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The opening sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy prior to making a sudden turn into "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient time to immerse in its world prior to it gets turned upside down.

Original Zombification Source

The film additionally presents a fairly interesting explanation regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the effect this affliction has on people is absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and are practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.

Capable Personalities

Even better than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of questionable decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like prey in headlights as death approaches.

Realistic Familial Discord

The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—feel authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals express appreciation for each other seem much more sincere.

Predictable Ending

Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight about family or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. But they're effective scares, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining