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Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category feels largely depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.

Impressive Rhythm and Personal Development

One of this movie's greatest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It begins using a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family party is violently disrupted when a vehicle plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual emerges and begins attacking the attendees. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the tragedy struck.

In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know its main characters prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. This has predictably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and who loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family head consists of Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.

Engaged in the Drama

I found myself so invested in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every relative represents, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon feat for this style that often presents individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a real shock once events finally go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial scenes of the party and various family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama with slightly dark humor prior to making a sudden shift into "holy shit" territory. These early scenes aren't centered as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to immerse in its world prior to it gets upended.

Original Zombification Source

The film additionally presents a fairly interesting reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a new sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the film devoted additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this affliction produces on people proves absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and they're almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.

Resourceful Personalities

More impressive than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of dubious choices (like any typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like prey in headlights as death nears.

Believable Familial Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives 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 over the phone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters express gratitude for each other feel far more genuine.

Stereotypical Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're successful scares, and since the film allows every personality enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable