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Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category seems mostly depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, Netflix's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.

Impressive Rhythm and Personal Growth

Among this movie's strongest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe this household prior to the disaster struck.

In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with its main characters prior to the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has understandably caused a rift among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured but socially awkward, and he enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. This household patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.

Engaged in the Conflict

I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of the film to showing viewers who each family member represents, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits enabled the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often introduces characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, so it's a real surprise once events eventually deteriorate.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy prior to taking a sudden turn toward shocking ground. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to settle into the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.

Unique Zombification Source

This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the film had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of context, the impact this condition produces on humans proves absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove 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 CGI also appear quite realistic, and are practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.

Resourceful Characters

Even better compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of questionable decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like prey caught in lights as death approaches.

Realistic Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a welcome authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another feel much more sincere.

Predictable Ending

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message about family or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. But they're successful scares, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and enjoyable