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Typically, I'm over undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems largely depleted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.

Excellent Rhythm and Personal Development

One of this movie's strongest assets is its excellent pacing. It begins using a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household prior to the tragedy occurred.

In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know its main personalities prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely strained.

Engaged in the Conflict

I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of the film depicting viewers the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed me to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat in a genre which frequently introduces individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a real surprise when things finally deteriorate.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The opening scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to making a sudden turn into shocking territory. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to settle into its world prior to everything gets upended.

Original Zombification Origin

The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the effect this condition has on people proves utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and are practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.

Resourceful Characters

Even better than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of questionable decision-making (as in any good undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.

Realistic Familial Discord

The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, which was a welcome authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals express gratitude for each other feel much more sincere.

Stereotypical Conclusion

Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're effective frights, and since the film allows every personality enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable