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Generally speaking, I'm over undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. However, Netflix's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out quite entertaining.

Impressive Rhythm and Character Development

Among the film's strongest strengths is its superb pacing. It begins with a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family gathering is violently interrupted when a vehicle plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household before the disaster occurred.

In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary personalities before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has understandably led to a falling out between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. This household patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely strained.

Invested in the Conflict

I became so invested in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every family member is, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a real surprise once events eventually deteriorate.

Evocative of Parasite

The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor before making an abrupt shift into "holy shit" ground. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient time to settle into its world prior to everything gets upended.

Original Infection Source

This movie also offers a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly potion which seems to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this condition produces on humans proves absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very realistic, and are practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.

Capable Personalities

More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of questionable choices (like any typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to kick an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find rather than standing still like prey caught in lights as death nears.

Believable Familial Discord

The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes those instances where these individuals express gratitude toward one another seem much more sincere.

Predictable Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight about family or society, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up frights. But they're effective frights, and since the film allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is an engaging and entertaining