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Typically, I'm over undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels largely exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.

Excellent Rhythm and Personal Growth

One of this movie's strongest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence where a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a van plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe this household before the disaster occurred.

Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough opportunity to get to know its main characters prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has understandably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. This household head consists of her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly tense.

Invested in the Drama

I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities enabled me to connect with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently introduces individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a real shock when things eventually deteriorate.

Evocative of Parasite

The opening scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy before making an abrupt shift into "holy shit" ground. These early scenes don't focus as much on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to immerse in its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.

Unique Infection Origin

This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of a unintended lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the film had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited context, the effect this condition has on people is utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and they're practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.

Capable Characters

Even better than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of questionable choices (like any typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find rather than freezing like prey caught in lights while danger approaches.

Realistic Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "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 movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters do show gratitude for each other feel far more genuine.

Stereotypical Ending

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight about family or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are successful frights, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable