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Typically, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels largely exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.

Excellent Rhythm and Personal Growth

One of the film's strongest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to see this household prior to the disaster struck.

Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary characters before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former close friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and who enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. The family head is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.

Invested in the Drama

I found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime to showing us the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing traits enabled me to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often presents characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a real shock when things eventually deteriorate.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial scenes of the party and various household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to taking a sudden turn toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to settle into the setting before it gets upended.

Unique Zombification Origin

The film also offers a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to producing a deadly potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the impact this condition has on humans is absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.

Resourceful Personalities

Even better than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some examples of questionable decision-making (like any any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like prey in headlights as death nears.

Believable Familial Strike

The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, which was a welcome authentic subversion 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 often seen in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters do show appreciation for each other feel much more genuine.

Predictable Conclusion

Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're successful scares, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining