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Generally speaking, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category feels largely depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.

Impressive Pacing and Character Growth

One of this movie's strongest assets is its excellent pacing. It begins using a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering is violently interrupted by a van plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to see the family before the tragedy struck.

Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough opportunity to get to know the primary personalities before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. This has predictably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly tense.

Invested in the Drama

I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film depicting viewers who each family member is, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities allowed me to relate with the characters enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat in a genre that often presents characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, so it's a genuine shock once events eventually go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The opening scenes of the party and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before taking a sudden shift into shocking ground. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting before everything gets turned upside down.

Original Infection Source

This movie also offers a quite interesting explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the movie had spent additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly potion that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the effect this affliction produces on people is absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.

Resourceful Personalities

Even better compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some instances of questionable decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find rather than standing still like prey caught in lights 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 welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals express appreciation for each other feel much more genuine.

Stereotypical Ending

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering frights. Yet these are successful frights, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable