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Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early 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 on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.

Impressive Pacing and Character Growth

Among the film's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It begins using a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe this household prior to the tragedy occurred.

In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough opportunity to get to know its main characters prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and he loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch is her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely strained.

Invested in the Conflict

I found myself so invested in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might sound like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime depicting us who each family member represents, and how they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled me to relate with the characters enough to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat for this style that often presents individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine shock once events finally deteriorate.

Evocative of Parasite

The opening scenes of the party and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a story that masquerades like a K-Drama with slightly dark humor prior to taking a sudden turn toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough time to immerse in the setting before everything gets turned upside down.

Original Infection Origin

This movie also offers a quite intriguing reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the film devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the impact this affliction produces on people is utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite convincing, and are almost certain to trigger one's trypophobia.

Resourceful Personalities

Even better compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, there are a few instances of dubious decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find rather than freezing like prey in headlights as death nears.

Believable Familial Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals express appreciation for each other feel far more sincere.

Predictable Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight about family or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are successful frights, and because the movie allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining