The Elixir

This isn’t the first Indonesian zombie movie, but probably the most proper one so far. The thing is, it actually has a lot of potential to be something great — too bad the execution feels kinda shallow. It’s gory and artistically disturbing, the local culture vibes are there too. I just wish the Jamu thing was explored deeper, ‘cause that could’ve made it stand out instead of feeling like just another zombie flick.

Still, I gotta say I like the character drama — they’re pretty complex. It’s just a shame it wasn’t handled better. With more natural dialogue and interactions, the emotional tension between the characters and their fight to survive could’ve hit harder. Would’ve made the movie feel less empty, you know?