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Typically, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.

Excellent Pacing and Personal Development

One of the film's greatest assets is its superb rhythm. It begins with a memorable initial scene where a calm family party is violently disrupted by a vehicle crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to see the family before the tragedy struck.

Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient time to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has predictably led to a falling out among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted but socially awkward, and who enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch is her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on only two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly strained.

Invested in the Conflict

I found myself so invested with this household's issues and their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked this was a horror film—which might sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime depicting us the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing traits enabled the audience to connect to the personalities enough to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style that often presents characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a real shock when things finally deteriorate.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to making an abrupt turn into "holy shit" ground. These early scenes aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting before everything gets turned upside down.

Original Infection Source

This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a new batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding how it started, I wish the film devoted additional time on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this condition produces on humans is absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and are practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.

Resourceful Personalities

Even better compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, there are a few examples of questionable decision-making (as in any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to kick an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.

Believable Familial Discord

The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters do show appreciation for each other seem far more sincere.

Predictable Conclusion

Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are successful frights, and because the film allows every personality enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining