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Generally speaking, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category seems mostly depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. However, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.

Superb Pacing and Character Growth

Among the film's greatest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It begins with a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted by a vehicle plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to see the family before the disaster occurred.

In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary characters prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. This has predictably caused a falling out between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and he enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household head is Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two aspects: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely tense.

Invested in the Conflict

I became so invested with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film depicting viewers who each family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat in a genre which frequently presents characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a real shock when things finally deteriorate.

Evocative of Parasite

The opening scenes from the gathering and various family interactions actually evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy prior to taking an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient time to settle into the setting before everything gets upended.

Original Infection Origin

This movie also offers a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the movie devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this condition produces on people proves absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.

Resourceful Characters

More impressive than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some instances of dubious decision-making (as in typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with the nearest heavy object is available instead of freezing like a deer in headlights as death nears.

Realistic Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, which was a welcome realistic subversion 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 apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation for each other feel far more genuine.

Stereotypical Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are effective scares, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining