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Generally speaking, I'm over zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category seems mostly exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.

Excellent Rhythm and Character Growth

One of this movie's greatest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence where a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then followed by a look back, allowing us to see the family prior to the tragedy occurred.

Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives viewers sufficient time to get to know the primary characters prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. This household head consists of Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly tense.

Invested in the Drama

I found myself so invested with this household's issues along with their interpersonal drama that I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime to showing us who each family member represents, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities allowed me to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often presents characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a real surprise once events finally deteriorate.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The initial sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama with slightly dark humor prior to taking an abrupt turn into "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives enough opportunity to settle into the setting prior to everything gets upended.

Unique Zombification Source

This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited context, the impact this affliction produces on people is utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and are almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.

Capable Personalities

More impressive compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of questionable decision-making (as in any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like prey in headlights as death nears.

Believable Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope often seen in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. 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 is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters express gratitude toward one another feel much more genuine.

Stereotypical Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message about family or society, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. Yet these are successful scares, and since the film allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and entertaining