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Generally speaking, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems largely exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.

Superb Rhythm and Personal Growth

Among the film's greatest assets lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off using a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly interrupted when a van plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see the family before the disaster struck.

Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary personalities prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but socially awkward, and who enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family head consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.

Engaged in the Conflict

I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of the film to showing viewers the identity of every relative represents, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits enabled me to connect with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat for this style which frequently introduces individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine shock once events finally go wrong.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy before taking a sudden turn into "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.

Original Zombification Source

This movie additionally presents a quite interesting reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While we do learn something regarding how it started, I wish the movie devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited context, the impact this condition has on humans proves absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and are practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.

Resourceful Personalities

More impressive than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some instances of questionable choices (as in typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights as death nears.

Believable Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, which was a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto bitterness 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 is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude for each other feel much more sincere.

Stereotypical Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're effective frights, and because the film gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining