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Generally speaking, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels mostly depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.

Superb Pacing and Character Growth

One of this movie's strongest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It begins using a striking opening sequence where a calm family party is violently disrupted when a vehicle plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is then followed by a look back, allowing us to see this household prior to the tragedy struck.

In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives viewers sufficient time to become acquainted with its main characters before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. This household head consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly tense.

Invested in the Drama

I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot this was a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime depicting us who each family member represents, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare feat for this style which frequently presents characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a real surprise when things eventually go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The opening sequences of the party and various family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to taking an abrupt turn into "holy shit" territory. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets upended.

Original Infection Source

The film additionally presents a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Rather than an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the movie had spent additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this affliction produces on humans proves utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and are almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.

Capable Characters

More impressive than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of dubious choices (like any typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her family are resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument is available instead of freezing like a deer in headlights as death approaches.

Believable Familial Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters express gratitude for each other seem much more sincere.

Predictable Ending

Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight about family or community, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering frights. But they're effective scares, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable