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Generally speaking, I've had my fill of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels largely exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out quite enjoyable.

Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth

One of the film's strongest assets is its excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to see this household prior to the disaster struck.

In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient time to get to know its main characters before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift between the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. The family head consists of Nes' father, the owner of a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely tense.

Invested in the Drama

I became so invested in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of the film to showing viewers who each relative is, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities allowed the audience to connect with the characters enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat in a genre which frequently introduces individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a real surprise once events finally deteriorate.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The initial sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama with slightly dark humor prior to making an abrupt shift into "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.

Original Zombification Source

The film also offers a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the film had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited background, the impact this condition has on humans proves absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and are practically guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.

Resourceful Personalities

More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of questionable decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.

Believable Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes those instances when these characters express gratitude for each other seem far more genuine.

Stereotypical Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message regarding relatives or community, as well. Rather, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are effective scares, and because the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable