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Typically, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category feels largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved quite entertaining.

Superb Pacing and Personal Development

One of this movie's strongest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene where a calm family gathering is violently disrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household prior to the disaster struck.

Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient time to get to know the primary characters before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a falling out between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. This household head consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly strained.

Engaged in the Drama

I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I nearly forgot this was a horror film—something that could sound like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime depicting us the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits allowed me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style that often presents characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a real shock when things finally deteriorate.

Evocative of Parasite

The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to making an abrupt shift into shocking ground. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient time to immerse in its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.

Unique Zombification Source

This movie also offers a quite intriguing reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the movie devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited context, the effect this condition produces on humans is utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.

Resourceful Personalities

Even better compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of dubious choices (as in typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like prey in headlights as death approaches.

Believable Familial Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—seem authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another feel far more sincere.

Predictable Ending

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 presenting some profound insight about family or society, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're successful scares, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and entertaining