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Typically, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out quite enjoyable.

Superb Pacing and Character Development

One of this movie's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It begins with a memorable opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking stranger emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see this household prior to the tragedy struck.

Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. This household head is her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two things: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely tense.

Invested in the Drama

I found myself so invested with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked this was a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime to showing us the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits enabled me to relate to the personalities enough to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a real surprise once events finally go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy prior to making an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to settle into the setting before it gets upended.

Original Infection Origin

The film additionally presents a fairly interesting reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the movie devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the effect this affliction has on people proves utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.

Capable Personalities

Even better than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of dubious choices (as in any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object they find rather than freezing like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.

Believable Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals begin transforming into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a close location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters express appreciation toward one another seem far more genuine.

Stereotypical Ending

Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound message regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are effective frights, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and entertaining