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Generally speaking, I've grown tired of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. However, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved quite entertaining.

Excellent Rhythm and Character Growth

One of the film's strongest strengths is its superb pacing. It begins using a memorable opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household before the disaster occurred.

In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient time to get to know the primary personalities prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has predictably led to a falling out among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. The family patriarch is her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely strained.

Invested in the Conflict

I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly forgot this was a horror film—something that could sound like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film to showing viewers who each family member represents, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled me to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often introduces characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a real surprise once events finally go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial scenes of the party and various household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to making an abrupt turn toward shocking ground. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives enough opportunity to immerse in its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.

Original Infection Source

This movie also offers a fairly interesting explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this affliction produces on people is utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and they're practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.

Capable Personalities

Even better compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of questionable choices (like any typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find rather than freezing like prey in headlights while danger nears.

Believable Familial Discord

The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes those instances when these characters do show appreciation for each other feel much more sincere.

Predictable Conclusion

Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. Yet these are effective scares, and because the movie gives each character enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and entertaining