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Generally speaking, I've had my fill of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category seems largely depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated turning out quite entertaining.

Excellent Rhythm and Personal Development

Among this movie's greatest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It begins using a striking opening sequence where a calm family party is violently disrupted when a vehicle crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to see the family before the disaster struck.

Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough opportunity to get to know the primary characters prior to the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and who loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. This household head consists of her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on only two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely strained.

Engaged in the Drama

I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot this was a horror film—which might sound like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime to showing us who each family member represents, and how they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a genuine surprise once events eventually deteriorate.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial scenes from the gathering and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before taking a sudden shift into shocking ground. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to it gets upended.

Original Infection Source

This movie also offers a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the movie devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the effect this affliction produces on humans proves utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.

Resourceful Personalities

More impressive compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of questionable decision-making (as in any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object is available instead of freezing like a deer in headlights as death nears.

Believable Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters do show gratitude for each other seem much more genuine.

Predictable Conclusion

Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message about family or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're successful scares, and since the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves a captivating and enjoyable