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Typically, I'm over zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels largely depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. However, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated turning out quite enjoyable.

Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth

Among the film's greatest strengths is its excellent pacing. It begins with a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family prior to the tragedy struck.

In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family head consists of her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely tense.

Invested in the Conflict

I became so invested in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked this was a horror film—which might seem like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film depicting us who each relative is, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled me to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style that often presents individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, so it's a genuine surprise once events eventually go wrong.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The opening scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy before taking an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" ground. These early moments aren't centered as much on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough time to immerse in its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.

Unique Infection Source

This movie also offers a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a new batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the impact this affliction has on humans proves absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and they're practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.

Resourceful Personalities

Even better than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of dubious choices (as in typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument is available instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.

Believable Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus 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 since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses 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 realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another feel much more sincere.

Stereotypical Ending

Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or community, as well. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are successful scares, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is an engaging and entertaining