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Generally speaking, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category feels mostly depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.

Excellent Pacing and Character Development

One of this movie's strongest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence where a calm family party is violently interrupted when a van crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe this household before the tragedy struck.

Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably led to a falling out between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. The family head is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly strained.

Invested in the Conflict

I became so invested in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime to showing us the identity of every family member is, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled me to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat for this style which frequently introduces characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, 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 sequences of the party and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama with slightly dark humor before taking an abrupt turn into "holy shit" territory. These early moments don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough time to immerse in its world prior to it gets upended.

Unique Zombification Origin

The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of background, the impact this condition has on humans is utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and are practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.

Capable Characters

Even better than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of questionable choices (like any any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights as death nears.

Realistic Familial Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another seem far more sincere.

Predictable Ending

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are effective scares, and because the film allows every personality enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome proves a captivating and enjoyable