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Generally speaking, I've grown tired of undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.

Excellent Pacing and Character Development

Among the film's greatest assets is its superb pacing. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted when a vehicle crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the disaster occurred.

In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with the primary characters before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. The family head consists of her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly strained.

Engaged in the Drama

I became so engrossed in the household's issues and their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of the film to showing us who each relative represents, and how they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled me to relate to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare feat in a genre that often introduces individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a real surprise once events eventually go wrong.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The opening sequences of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor before making a sudden turn toward shocking ground. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.

Unique Zombification Source

The film also offers a quite intriguing reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the movie devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this affliction produces on humans proves utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear very realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.

Resourceful Characters

Even better compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of questionable choices (like any any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object is available instead of freezing like a deer in headlights while danger nears.

Realistic Familial Discord

The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes 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 since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters express appreciation toward one another seem much more sincere.

Stereotypical Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message about family or community, as well. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're successful frights, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable