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For the most part, I've had my fill of undead films. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels mostly exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved quite entertaining.

Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth

One of this movie's strongest assets is its excellent pacing. It kicks off with a striking initial scene in which a calm family party is violently disrupted by a van crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family before the disaster occurred.

Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough opportunity to get to know the primary personalities before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and he loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family head is Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly tense.

Engaged in the Drama

I became so engrossed with this household's issues along with their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of the film depicting us who each family member is, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities allowed me to connect to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style that often introduces characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, so it's a genuine shock when things eventually go wrong.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The initial scenes of the party and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy before taking an abrupt turn toward shocking territory. These early moments don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient time to settle into its world prior to everything gets upended.

Original Zombification Origin

The film additionally presents a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the impact this affliction produces on humans proves absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and are practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.

Resourceful Characters

Even better than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of questionable choices (like any any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like a deer in headlights as death approaches.

Realistic Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another feel much more genuine.

Predictable Conclusion

Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering frights. Yet these are successful frights, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining