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Generally speaking, I'm over zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.

Impressive Pacing and Character Growth

Among this movie's greatest assets is its superb rhythm. It begins using a memorable opening sequence where a peaceful family party gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see this household prior to the disaster struck.

Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough time to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and he enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. This household head consists of her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly tense.

Engaged in the Conflict

I became so engrossed in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot this was a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime to showing us the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often presents characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise when things finally go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The opening scenes from the gathering and various family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy before taking a sudden shift toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient time to immerse in the setting before everything gets upended.

Original Zombification Origin

This movie also offers a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although some background is provided something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of context, the effect this condition produces on humans is utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and are practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.

Capable Personalities

Even better compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of questionable decision-making (as in typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like a deer in headlights as death nears.

Believable Familial Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters express gratitude for each other seem much more sincere.

Predictable Conclusion

Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message about family or community, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are effective frights, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable