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Generally speaking, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels mostly depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.

Superb Rhythm and Character Development

One of this movie's strongest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable opening sequence where a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then followed by a look back, allowing us to see this household prior to the disaster occurred.

In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough opportunity to get to know the primary characters prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. This household patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two things: his business and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely strained.

Engaged in the Drama

I became so invested in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film to showing viewers the identity of every family member is, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits allowed me to relate to the personalities enough to care about their fate—a rare feat in a genre which frequently presents characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a real shock once events eventually go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy prior to making an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" ground. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient time to settle into its world prior to it gets upended.

Unique Zombification Origin

This movie additionally presents a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a new batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited background, the effect this affliction has on humans proves absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and are practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.

Resourceful Personalities

Even better than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of dubious decision-making (as in any good undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find rather than standing still like prey caught in lights as death nears.

Realistic Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals express gratitude toward one another seem far more genuine.

Predictable Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message about family or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're effective scares, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining