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Generally speaking, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.

Superb Pacing and Personal Growth

One of this movie's greatest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence where a calm family gathering is violently disrupted by a van crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense scene is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to see the family prior to the disaster struck.

In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know its main personalities prior to the chaos begins. We meet 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 rift between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted but socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely tense.

Engaged in the Conflict

I became so invested in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every relative represents, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities enabled me to relate with the characters enough to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces characters only 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 consume, thus it's a real shock once events eventually deteriorate.

Evocative of Parasite

The opening sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy before making a sudden shift toward shocking territory. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives enough time to settle into its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.

Original Zombification Source

The film additionally presents a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the movie devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal potion that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this affliction produces on humans is absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and are almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.

Capable Personalities

More impressive compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of questionable choices (like any any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like a deer in headlights while danger nears.

Realistic Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, which was a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals express appreciation 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 formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound message regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're successful scares, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining