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Generally speaking, I've had my fill of undead films. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.

Impressive Rhythm and Character Development

Among this movie's strongest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It begins with a striking initial scene where a calm family gathering is violently disrupted when a van crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household prior to the disaster occurred.

In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives viewers sufficient time to get to know its main characters prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and who enjoys playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family head consists of her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely strained.

Invested in the Drama

I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot this was a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film depicting us who each family member represents, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits enabled me to relate with the characters enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat for this style that often introduces characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise once events finally go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor before making an abrupt turn into "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough time to immerse in the setting before it gets turned upside down.

Original Zombification Origin

The film also offers a quite interesting explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent additional time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the impact this condition produces on people is absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.

Resourceful Personalities

More impressive than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of questionable decision-making (as in any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like a deer in headlights as death nears.

Believable Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters do show appreciation for each other seem far more genuine.

Predictable Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are effective scares, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and entertaining