Netflix's Surprising New Undead Movie Injects New Life into a Tired Category

For the most part, I'm over zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category seems mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved quite entertaining.

Superb Pacing and Character Growth

One of the film's greatest strengths is its superb pacing. It begins with a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted by a vehicle plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe this household prior to the tragedy occurred.

Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough time to get to know the primary personalities before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. This household head is her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two things: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.

Invested in the Drama

I became so invested in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly forgot this was a horror film—which might sound like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime to showing us who each family member is, and how they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities allowed me to connect to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare feat for this style that often presents individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, so it's a real shock when things eventually deteriorate.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The opening sequences from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy before taking a sudden shift into "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives enough opportunity to immerse in the setting before everything gets upended.

Unique Zombification Source

This movie also offers a quite intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the film devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir which seems to include a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of background, the impact this affliction produces on humans proves absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and are practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.

Capable Personalities

Even better compared to the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of dubious decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they 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 freezing like prey in headlights while danger approaches.

Believable Familial Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals express gratitude for each other seem far more genuine.

Stereotypical Ending

Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message about family or society, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are effective scares, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is an engaging and entertaining