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Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels mostly depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.

Excellent Pacing and Character Development

One of the film's strongest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a van plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household prior to the tragedy occurred.

In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient time to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably caused a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. This household patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who 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 proves extremely tense.

Engaged in the Drama

I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime to showing us who each family member represents, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits allowed me to connect with the characters enough to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a real surprise when things finally go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The opening sequences from the gathering and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor before making a sudden shift into shocking territory. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough time to immerse in its world before everything gets turned upside down.

Unique Infection Origin

The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although some background is provided something regarding how it started, I wish the movie had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the effect this affliction produces on humans is utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.

Resourceful Characters

More impressive than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of questionable decision-making (like any typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like prey in headlights as death approaches.

Realistic Familial Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters do show appreciation toward one another seem much more genuine.

Predictable Ending

Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're effective scares, and since the film gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and entertaining