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Generally speaking, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems largely depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.

Excellent Rhythm and Character Growth

One of this movie's strongest strengths is its superb pacing. It begins using a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the disaster occurred.

Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough opportunity to get to know the primary personalities before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably caused a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. This household head is her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two things: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely strained.

Engaged in the Conflict

I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I almost forgot this was a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film depicting viewers the identity of every family member represents, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre that often introduces individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a real shock when things eventually go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The opening scenes from the gathering and various family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy before taking a sudden shift into "holy shit" ground. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to settle into the setting before it gets upended.

Original Zombification Origin

This movie also offers a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent additional time on how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this affliction produces on humans is absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.

Resourceful Personalities

More impressive than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of questionable choices (like any typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.

Believable Familial Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters express gratitude toward one another feel far more sincere.

Stereotypical Conclusion

Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are successful scares, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining