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Typically, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category seems mostly depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, the platform's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.

Superb Pacing and Personal Growth

Among this movie's strongest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene where a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the disaster struck.

In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary personalities before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he enjoys gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly strained.

Engaged in the Conflict

I became so invested in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime to showing viewers who each family member is, and how they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits enabled me to connect with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style that often presents individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a real surprise when things eventually go wrong.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades like a K-Drama with slightly dark humor before taking an abrupt shift into shocking ground. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.

Unique Zombification Source

This movie also offers a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the movie had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this affliction has on people proves absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and they're practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.

Capable Characters

Even better compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some instances of dubious decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights as death nears.

Realistic Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't abandon 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 since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters do show gratitude for each other feel far more genuine.

Predictable Ending

Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering frights. Yet these are successful scares, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome is an engaging and enjoyable