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Generally speaking, I'm over undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems largely depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.

Superb Rhythm and Personal Development

One of the film's strongest strengths is its excellent pacing. It begins with a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering is violently interrupted when a van crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe this household before the disaster occurred.

In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. The family patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.

Invested in the Drama

I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I almost forgot this was a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime to showing viewers who each family member represents, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat in a genre that often introduces individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, so it's a real shock once events finally deteriorate.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial scenes of the party and various household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to making an abrupt shift into shocking ground. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to settle into its world before it gets upended.

Unique Infection Origin

The film also offers a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding how it started, I wish the movie had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this affliction produces on people is utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and are almost certain to trigger one's trypophobia.

Capable Characters

More impressive compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some instances of dubious decision-making (as in any good undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like prey in headlights as death approaches.

Realistic Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to 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 admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation for each other seem far more genuine.

Predictable Conclusion

Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight about family or community, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're effective scares, and because the film gives each character enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and entertaining