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Typically, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels largely depleted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. However, the platform's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.

Excellent Pacing and Personal Development

One of this movie's greatest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It begins with a memorable initial scene where a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a van crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the disaster struck.

In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough time to become acquainted with the primary characters before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has understandably led to a rift between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. This household head consists of Nes' father, the owner of a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two things: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely strained.

Invested in the Conflict

I became so engrossed with this household's issues and their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of the film depicting us the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits allowed the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment for this style that often introduces individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, so it's a genuine surprise when things finally go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to making an abrupt shift into shocking ground. These introductory moments aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to immerse in the setting before everything gets turned upside down.

Unique Infection Origin

This movie also offers a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding how it started, I wish the film had spent additional time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of background, the effect this affliction has on people is absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and they're almost certain to trigger one's trypophobia.

Capable Characters

More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are a few examples of dubious choices (as in typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like a deer in headlights while danger nears.

Realistic Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a welcome realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide over the phone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters express gratitude for each other feel much more genuine.

Stereotypical Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering frights. Yet these are successful scares, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is an engaging and entertaining