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Generally speaking, I'm over zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category seems mostly exhausted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.

Superb Pacing and Character Development

Among the film's greatest assets is its excellent pacing. It begins with a memorable opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering is violently interrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to see this household prior to the tragedy struck.

In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough time to become acquainted with its main personalities before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has understandably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly strained.

Invested in the Conflict

I became so invested in the household's issues and their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked this was a horror film—which might sound like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime depicting us the identity of every family member is, and how they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled me to relate with the characters enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat for this style that often introduces characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine surprise once events eventually deteriorate.

Evocative of Parasite

The opening scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy before taking a sudden turn into "holy shit" territory. These early scenes don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough time to immerse in the setting before everything gets turned upside down.

Original Zombification Source

The film also offers a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of background, the effect this condition produces on people proves absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and are almost certain to trigger one's trypophobia.

Resourceful Personalities

Even better compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of dubious choices (as in any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like prey in headlights as death nears.

Realistic Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, this proved a welcome realistic 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 films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters express gratitude toward one another seem far more sincere.

Predictable Ending

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're effective scares, and because the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and entertaining