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Typically, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels mostly depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.

Superb Rhythm and Character Growth

One of this movie's greatest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger emerges and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to see the family prior to the disaster occurred.

In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough time to become acquainted with its main characters prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household head consists of her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly tense.

Invested in the Drama

I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of the film depicting viewers the identity of every relative is, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style that often introduces individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise once events finally deteriorate.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The initial sequences of the party and various family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before making a sudden shift toward "holy shit" ground. These early moments don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting before everything gets upended.

Original Zombification Source

This movie also offers a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the movie had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to producing a lethal potion which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of context, the effect this condition has on people is absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.

Capable Characters

More impressive compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, there are a few examples of questionable choices (like any any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.

Realistic Familial Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes those instances when these characters do show appreciation toward one another seem much more genuine.

Stereotypical Conclusion

Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or community, as well. Rather, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are effective frights, and because the movie gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and entertaining