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For the most part, I'm over undead films. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels largely exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.

Impressive Rhythm and Character Growth

Among this movie's greatest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off using a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family party is violently interrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the disaster struck.

In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities before the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. This has predictably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly tense.

Invested in the Drama

I became so engrossed with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot this was a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every relative represents, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare feat for this style which frequently presents individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, so it's a genuine shock once events finally deteriorate.

Evocative of Parasite

The opening scenes of the party and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama with slightly dark humor prior to taking an abrupt shift toward shocking territory. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.

Original Infection Source

This movie also offers a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although some background is provided something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent additional time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited context, the effect this condition produces on people is absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear very realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.

Resourceful Personalities

More impressive than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of questionable choices (as in typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights as death nears.

Believable Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals 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 so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters express appreciation toward one another seem far more genuine.

Predictable Ending

Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message about family or society, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. But they're successful frights, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome is an engaging and enjoyable