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Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated turning out quite entertaining.

Impressive Rhythm and Personal Growth

One of this movie's greatest strengths is its superb rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a van plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to see this household prior to the tragedy occurred.

In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough opportunity to get to know the primary characters prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but socially awkward, and who enjoys gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. This household head consists of Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on just two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely strained.

Invested in the Conflict

I found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of the film depicting us who each family member represents, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities allowed the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a genuine surprise when things finally deteriorate.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The initial scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor prior to making a sudden shift into shocking ground. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient time to immerse in the setting before everything gets upended.

Unique Zombification Source

The film also offers a quite intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the movie had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this affliction produces on humans is utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.

Capable Characters

More impressive than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of questionable choices (like any any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like prey in headlights while danger nears.

Believable Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a welcome authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, 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 meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude for each other feel much more genuine.

Stereotypical Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message about family or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are successful frights, and because the film allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and entertaining