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For the most part, I'm over zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels largely exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out quite entertaining.

Excellent Rhythm and Personal Development

Among the film's strongest assets is its excellent pacing. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family party is violently disrupted when a vehicle plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to see the family prior to the disaster occurred.

Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough opportunity to get to know the primary characters before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has predictably caused a falling out among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. The family head is her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely tense.

Invested in the Conflict

I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues and their personal conflicts that I almost forgot this was a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film depicting us the identity of every family member is, and how they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, so it's a genuine surprise once events eventually go wrong.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The initial sequences of the party and various household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy prior to taking an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" territory. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets upended.

Original Zombification Source

This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease stems from a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the movie devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir which seems to include a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of background, the impact this affliction has on humans is absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and they're practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.

Capable Characters

Even better than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of dubious decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like prey caught in lights as death nears.

Realistic Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone 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 toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters do show appreciation for each other feel much more genuine.

Stereotypical Ending

Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message about family or community, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. But they're effective scares, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable