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For the most part, I've grown tired of undead films. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.

Superb Pacing and Character Development

One of the film's greatest assets is its excellent pacing. It begins using a striking opening sequence in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a van plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family before the disaster occurred.

Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters before the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and he loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household head consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely tense.

Invested in the Conflict

I found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of the film to showing us who each relative represents, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise when things eventually go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial sequences from the gathering and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy before taking a sudden turn toward shocking territory. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to immerse in its world prior to everything gets upended.

Unique Zombification Origin

The film additionally presents a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the film devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this condition produces on humans proves absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.

Resourceful Characters

More impressive compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of dubious choices (as in typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than freezing like a deer in headlights as death nears.

Believable Familial Strike

The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals express gratitude for each other feel much more genuine.

Stereotypical Ending

Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight about family or community, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're successful scares, and because the movie gives each character enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining