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For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems largely depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.

Impressive Rhythm and Character Development

One of the film's strongest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It begins with a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering is violently interrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household before the disaster occurred.

Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary characters prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has understandably led to a falling out between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. The family patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on only two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely tense.

Engaged in the Drama

I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of the film depicting us who each relative represents, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing traits enabled the audience to connect with the characters enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often presents characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a genuine surprise once events eventually go wrong.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The initial sequences of the party and various family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama with slightly dark humor before making a sudden turn toward shocking territory. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.

Unique Zombification Origin

The film also offers a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a lethal potion that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the impact this condition has on people proves utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and are practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.

Resourceful Characters

More impressive compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of questionable decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like prey in headlights as death approaches.

Realistic Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, this proved 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 all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters do show appreciation for each other feel much more genuine.

Predictable Ending

Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message about family or community, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're effective frights, and because the movie gives each character enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and entertaining