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Generally speaking, I've grown tired of zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems largely exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for months. However, Netflix's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.

Excellent Pacing and Personal Development

One of the film's strongest assets is its excellent pacing. It begins with a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering is violently interrupted when a vehicle plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household before the tragedy struck.

In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough time to get to know its main characters prior to the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has predictably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. This household patriarch is her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely strained.

Invested in the Conflict

I became so invested in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every relative is, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities enabled the audience to connect with the characters enough to care about their fate—a rare feat in a genre which frequently presents individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine shock once events finally go wrong.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor prior to making a sudden turn toward shocking territory. These early scenes don't focus as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.

Unique Zombification Source

The film also offers a fairly interesting explanation for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the film devoted a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the impact this condition produces on people proves absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.

Resourceful Personalities

More impressive compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of questionable choices (like any any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object is available instead of freezing like prey in headlights while danger approaches.

Realistic Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals express gratitude toward one another seem much more sincere.

Stereotypical Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message about family or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. Yet these are effective frights, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and entertaining