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Generally speaking, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems largely depleted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.

Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth

One of this movie's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family party is violently disrupted by a vehicle plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see this household before the disaster occurred.

Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary characters prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. This has predictably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. This household patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two things: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly tense.

Engaged in the Conflict

I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime depicting us the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on clashing personalities allowed the audience to connect to the personalities enough to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a real shock once events eventually deteriorate.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The initial scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor before taking an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" territory. These early scenes don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient time to settle into the setting before everything gets upended.

Unique Zombification Source

This movie also offers a fairly interesting reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the movie devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly potion that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this condition produces on humans proves utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and are almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.

Capable Personalities

Even better than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are a few instances of dubious decision-making (as in typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her family are resourceful and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available rather than freezing like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.

Realistic Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone 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 for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters express appreciation for each other feel far more genuine.

Stereotypical Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're effective frights, and because the film allows every personality enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and enjoyable