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Generally speaking, I'm over zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems mostly depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.

Superb Rhythm and Character Growth

One of this movie's greatest assets is its excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see this household prior to the disaster occurred.

In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has predictably led to a rift between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly strained.

Invested in the Drama

I became so engrossed in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly forgot I was watching a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of the film to showing us who each relative is, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled the audience to relate to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style that often introduces individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a real shock when things eventually go wrong.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy before taking an abrupt turn into shocking ground. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to settle into the setting prior to everything gets upended.

Original Infection Origin

The film additionally presents a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than a unintended lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a new sample of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of background, the effect this condition produces on people proves absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and are practically guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.

Capable Characters

Even better compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of questionable decision-making (as in any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family are resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object they find rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger approaches.

Believable Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people begin transforming to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters express gratitude for each other seem much more sincere.

Stereotypical Conclusion

Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's primarily delivering frights. Yet these are effective frights, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining