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Typically, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.

Impressive Rhythm and Personal Development

Among the film's greatest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It begins using a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted when a van crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the disaster occurred.

In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough time to become acquainted with its main personalities before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose ex close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. This has understandably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. The family patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly tense.

Invested in the Drama

I became so engrossed in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot this was a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime depicting us the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled the audience to connect to the personalities enough to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style that often presents characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine surprise once events finally go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before taking a sudden turn into shocking ground. These early scenes don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough time to immerse in the setting prior to it gets upended.

Original Infection Source

This movie also offers a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in 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 movie had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this affliction produces on humans proves absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and they're practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.

Resourceful Characters

More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of questionable decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like prey caught in lights while danger approaches.

Realistic Familial Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another feel far more genuine.

Predictable Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message about family or society, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. But they're effective scares, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining