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For the most part, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels largely depleted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. However, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved quite entertaining.

Impressive Pacing and Character Growth

Among the film's strongest strengths is its excellent pacing. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene in which a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see this household before the disaster occurred.

In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough time to get to know its main personalities before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and who enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. This household head consists of her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who seems focused on only two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.

Engaged in the Conflict

I found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of the film to showing viewers who each relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled me to relate with the characters enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat in a genre which frequently presents characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine shock when things finally go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The opening scenes of the party and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to taking a sudden shift toward shocking ground. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to settle into the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.

Original Zombification Source

This movie additionally presents a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Rather than an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the source of this contagious disease stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the movie devoted additional time on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this affliction produces on humans proves absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and are almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.

Resourceful Personalities

More impressive than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of dubious choices (like any any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like prey caught in lights while danger nears.

Realistic Familial Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters express gratitude toward one another seem far more genuine.

Stereotypical Ending

In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're successful frights, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and entertaining