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Typically, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems largely depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out quite enjoyable.

Impressive Pacing and Character Development

Among this movie's strongest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It kicks off using a striking initial scene where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to see the family prior to the disaster occurred.

In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary characters prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. This has understandably led to a rift between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family head is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two things: his business and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly strained.

Invested in the Conflict

I became so invested with this household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film depicting viewers the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled me to connect with the characters enough to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style that often presents characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine shock when things eventually deteriorate.

Evocative of Parasite

The opening scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to taking an abrupt turn into "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives enough opportunity to settle into the setting prior to it gets upended.

Original Zombification Origin

The film additionally presents a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this affliction has on humans is absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and are practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.

Capable Characters

More impressive than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some instances of dubious decision-making (as in any good undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available rather than standing still like prey caught in lights while danger nears.

Realistic Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation 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 movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation for each other feel far more genuine.

Predictable Ending

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message regarding relatives or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are successful frights, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining