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For the most part, I've grown tired of 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. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. However, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.

Impressive Rhythm and Character Growth

One of the film's greatest assets is its excellent rhythm. It begins with a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to see this household before the tragedy struck.

Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough opportunity to get to know its main personalities prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has understandably led to a rift between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household head consists of her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.

Engaged in the Conflict

I became so engrossed with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film to showing viewers who each family member represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits allowed me to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often introduces individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise when things eventually go wrong.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The opening sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor before taking an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" ground. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient time to settle into its world before everything gets upended.

Unique Zombification Source

This movie also offers a fairly interesting explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding how it started, I wish the film devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited background, the effect this condition has on people is utterly disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite convincing, and are practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.

Resourceful Personalities

Even better compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some examples of questionable choices (as in typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.

Believable Familial Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes is not perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters express appreciation toward one another seem much more genuine.

Stereotypical Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering frights. Yet these are successful scares, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable