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Generally speaking, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels largely depleted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved quite entertaining.

Superb Pacing and Character Growth

Among the film's greatest strengths is its excellent rhythm. It begins using a striking initial scene where a calm family gathering is violently interrupted when a van plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family before the disaster occurred.

Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know its main personalities before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has predictably led to a rift between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. This household patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he seems focused on only two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly strained.

Invested in the Drama

I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of the film to showing us who each family member represents, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits allowed me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine shock once events finally deteriorate.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The initial sequences of the party and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy before taking an abrupt turn into "holy shit" territory. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient time to settle into its world prior to it gets upended.

Unique Zombification Origin

The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the film devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a lethal potion which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the impact this condition has on humans is absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and they're almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.

Capable Characters

More impressive than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of dubious decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find instead of standing still like prey caught in lights while danger nears.

Realistic Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters express gratitude toward one another feel far more sincere.

Predictable Ending

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering frights. But they're effective frights, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining