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Generally speaking, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.

Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth

Among the film's strongest assets lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off with a striking initial scene in which a calm family gathering is violently disrupted by a van plows into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household prior to the disaster occurred.

In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough time to become acquainted with its main personalities before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch is her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely strained.

Invested in the Conflict

I became so invested with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked this was a horror film—which might seem like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime depicting us the identity of every relative is, and how they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, so it's a genuine surprise once events finally go wrong.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor prior to making a sudden turn into "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient time to settle into the setting prior to everything gets upended.

Unique Zombification Origin

The film also offers a fairly interesting reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a new batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this condition has on people proves absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and are practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.

Capable Personalities

More impressive compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of dubious choices (like any typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like a deer in headlights while danger nears.

Believable Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict 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! trope often seen in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters do show gratitude toward one another feel far more genuine.

Stereotypical Ending

Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight about family or society, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are successful frights, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and enjoyable