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Typically, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels mostly depleted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out quite enjoyable.

Excellent Rhythm and Character Growth

Among the film's greatest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence where a peaceful family party is violently disrupted when a van crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to see this household prior to the tragedy occurred.

In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary characters before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and who seems focused on only two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely strained.

Engaged in the Conflict

I found myself so invested with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every family member is, and how they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits enabled me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine shock when things finally go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial scenes of the party and various household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before taking a sudden shift into "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives enough time to immerse in its world before it gets turned upside down.

Original Infection Origin

The film additionally presents a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. Although some background is provided something regarding how it started, I wish the film had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the impact this condition produces on humans proves utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and they're practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.

Capable Personalities

Even better compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of dubious decision-making (like any typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find instead of freezing like prey in headlights as death approaches.

Realistic Familial Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters do show appreciation toward one another seem far more genuine.

Predictable Conclusion

In spite of 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 message about family or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're effective frights, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining