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Generally speaking, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels mostly depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.

Excellent Rhythm and Personal Development

Among the film's strongest assets is its excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a striking initial scene in which a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see the family before the disaster struck.

Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough time to become acquainted with the primary characters before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a falling out between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely strained.

Engaged in the Conflict

I found myself so invested with this household's issues along with their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime depicting us the identity of every relative is, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat in a genre that often presents individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine shock once events eventually go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial sequences of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy prior to making a sudden turn toward shocking ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to settle into the setting before everything gets turned upside down.

Unique Zombification Source

The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of background, the impact this condition produces on people is absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and are almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.

Capable Personalities

More impressive than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of dubious choices (as in any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available instead of standing still like a deer in headlights as death approaches.

Realistic Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a welcome realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude for each other feel far more genuine.

Predictable Ending

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight about family or community, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are effective frights, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining