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For the most part, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category feels mostly depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. However, the platform's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated turning out quite entertaining.

Superb Pacing and Personal Growth

One of the film's strongest assets is its excellent pacing. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering is violently interrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe this household prior to the tragedy occurred.

Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough time to get to know the primary personalities prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. The family patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly strained.

Invested in the Drama

I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues and their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime depicting us the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities allowed the audience to relate with the characters enough to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine surprise once events eventually deteriorate.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The opening scenes of the party and various household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before taking an abrupt turn into shocking territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting before it gets upended.

Unique Infection Source

This movie also offers a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a new sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the film devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly potion that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of background, the effect this affliction has on humans proves utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and are practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.

Resourceful Personalities

Even better than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of dubious decision-making (as in any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like a deer in headlights as death nears.

Believable Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters express gratitude toward one another feel far more sincere.

Predictable Ending

Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're effective frights, and because the film allows every personality enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining