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Generally speaking, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. However, the platform's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.

Excellent Pacing and Character Growth

One of the film's strongest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene where a calm family party is violently interrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household prior to the tragedy occurred.

Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has predictably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but socially awkward, and who enjoys playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch is her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely strained.

Engaged in the Conflict

I became so engrossed with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing traits enabled me to connect with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often presents individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a real surprise when things eventually go wrong.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The initial scenes of the party and various household exchanges actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy before making an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" territory. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to immerse in its world prior to everything gets upended.

Unique Infection Source

The film additionally presents a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this condition produces on humans proves utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and are almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.

Resourceful Personalities

More impressive compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of questionable choices (like any typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object is available rather than standing still like prey caught in lights while danger nears.

Realistic Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation for each other feel much more genuine.

Stereotypical Conclusion

Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight about family or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering frights. But they're effective frights, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome is an engaging and enjoyable