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For the most part, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems largely depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.

Impressive Rhythm and Personal Growth

One of this movie's greatest strengths is its excellent rhythm. It begins with a striking initial scene where a peaceful family gathering is violently interrupted by a van crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to observe the family before the tragedy occurred.

Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough opportunity to get to know the primary personalities before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. This household head is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly strained.

Invested in the Conflict

I became so invested in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film to showing viewers the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed me to connect to the personalities enough to care about their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently introduces characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a real shock when things eventually go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The opening sequences from the gathering and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before taking a sudden shift into "holy shit" ground. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough time to settle into the setting before everything gets turned upside down.

Unique Zombification Source

This movie additionally presents a quite interesting reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease stems from a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent a little more time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the impact this affliction has on people is utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.

Capable Personalities

Even better than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of questionable decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her family are resourceful and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like prey in headlights while danger nears.

Realistic Familial Strike

The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters express appreciation toward one another seem far more sincere.

Predictable Ending

In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight about family or society, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering frights. But they're successful frights, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable