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For the most part, I'm over undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.

Excellent Rhythm and Personal Development

Among the film's strongest strengths is its superb pacing. It begins using a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted when a vehicle crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household prior to the tragedy occurred.

Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough opportunity to get to know its main characters prior to the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely tense.

Invested in the Conflict

I became so invested with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked this was a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled me to connect with the characters enough to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently presents characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a real shock when things eventually go wrong.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The initial scenes of the party and various household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before taking an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" ground. These early moments don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to settle into the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.

Unique Zombification Origin

The film also offers a fairly interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of background, the impact this condition produces on humans proves absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and are practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.

Capable Characters

More impressive than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of dubious choices (like any typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights as death nears.

Realistic Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity 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 doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals express appreciation toward one another seem far more genuine.

Stereotypical Ending

Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight about family or community, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering frights. Yet these are effective frights, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable