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Typically, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels largely exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. However, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.

Excellent Rhythm and Character Growth

One of this movie's greatest strengths is its excellent pacing. It begins with a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe this household before the disaster struck.

In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives viewers sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. This has understandably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and who enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch is her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly tense.

Engaged in the Drama

I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of the film depicting us the identity of every family member represents, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed me to connect to the personalities enough to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style that often presents individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise when things eventually go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy prior to taking an abrupt shift toward shocking ground. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to settle into the setting before everything gets upended.

Original Zombification Origin

This movie additionally presents a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the film devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this condition has on people proves absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.

Resourceful Personalities

Even better compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of dubious choices (as in typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument is available instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights as death nears.

Realistic Familial Discord

The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation for each other feel much more sincere.

Predictable Conclusion

Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message about family or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're successful frights, and since the movie gives each character enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and entertaining