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Typically, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels largely depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for months. However, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.

Impressive Pacing and Character Development

One of the film's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off with a striking initial scene where a peaceful family gathering is violently interrupted by a vehicle crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe this household prior to the disaster occurred.

Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient time to get to know the primary characters prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has understandably caused a falling out between the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family head consists of her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is extremely tense.

Invested in the Drama

I became so engrossed in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime to showing us who each family member is, and how they add to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing traits allowed me to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently presents characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a real shock once events finally deteriorate.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The initial sequences of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor prior to making a sudden shift toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough time to settle into its world prior to it gets turned upside down.

Unique Infection Source

This movie additionally presents a quite interesting explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a new sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the impact this condition produces on humans proves absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and are practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.

Capable Personalities

Even better compared to the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some examples of dubious choices (as in typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available instead of freezing like prey in headlights while danger nears.

Realistic Familial Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a welcome authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters do show appreciation for each other feel far more sincere.

Predictable Ending

In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are effective frights, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and entertaining