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For the most part, I've had my fill of undead films. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category feels mostly depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated turning out quite entertaining.

Superb Rhythm and Character Development

One of the film's greatest strengths is its superb pacing. It begins with a memorable initial scene in which a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted by a van plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family before the tragedy occurred.

Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough opportunity to get to know its main personalities before the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch is her dad, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely strained.

Engaged in the Drama

I became so invested in the household's issues and their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of the film to showing viewers who each family member is, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits allowed the audience to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a real shock when things finally deteriorate.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The opening sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor before taking a sudden shift into "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to settle into its world prior to it gets upended.

Unique Infection Origin

The film also offers a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding how it started, I wish the film devoted a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited context, the effect this affliction has on people is utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and are practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.

Resourceful Personalities

Even better compared to the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of questionable choices (as in typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like prey in headlights as death nears.

Realistic Familial Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters do show appreciation toward one another feel much more sincere.

Stereotypical Ending

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message about family or community, as well. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're successful scares, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and enjoyable