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Generally speaking, 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 largely depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.

Superb Rhythm and Personal Development

One of this movie's greatest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It begins using a striking opening sequence in which a calm family gathering is violently disrupted by a van plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household prior to the disaster occurred.

Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough time to become acquainted with its main personalities before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has predictably caused a falling out among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and who loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. The family head is Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on only two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.

Engaged in the Drama

I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style that often introduces characters 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, so it's a real shock once events eventually deteriorate.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The initial sequences of the party and various household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before making an abrupt shift toward shocking territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives enough time to settle into its world prior to it gets turned upside down.

Unique Zombification Source

The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the source of this contagious disease stems from a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited background, the impact this affliction produces on humans proves absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and are practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.

Capable Characters

More impressive compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, there are a few instances of dubious choices (as in typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find instead of standing still like prey caught in lights while danger nears.

Believable Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household 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 an immense level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude for each other feel far more sincere.

Stereotypical Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are successful scares, and because the movie allows every personality enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and entertaining