Director/Co-writer Kimo Stamboel presents 2025’s The Elixir AKA Abadi NAN Jaya. It is all about Indonesian zombies, brought about by a herbal mixture meant to reverse the effects of aging. Stamboel has a reputation of being a horror maestro in film. This time, the medium is digital and despite the move away from celluloid, The Elixir looks brilliant. The gore is almost in your face with more than a touch of visceral content that impresses.
*Stamboel shares writing credit with: Khalid Kashogi and Agasyah Karim.*
Indonesia has come a long way with their share of the horror pie. In 2010 they produced the splendid Macabre and in 2023 the cracking supernatural horror film Sewu Dino shows just how far they’ve moved. They may just be the new “I-Horror” leaders in the Asian Horror genre.
The Elixir Story
“A dysfunctional family running a renowned herbal medicine business. The owner of the company attempts to innovate by creating a new potion, which ends up triggering a zombie outbreak.” (Courtesy of IMDb.com.)
At the start of the film, two cases of elixir are sent out. Two separate families are to get the boxes. The first family, that we see, have stake in the company. The patriarchal head of the family takes one bottle and drinks it. Thus begins the start of a zombie epidemic.
The Elixir Cast
Mikha Tambayong (If she looks familiar you probably saw her as Sri in Sewu Dino.)
Let’s Talk The Elixir
Lessons have been learned in the zombie genre. This new version of the undead has been heavily influenced by Zack Snyder. His remake of Romero’s Dawn of the Dead made the monsters almost preternaturally fast. George Romero’s undead are shambling and slow. They still get you in the end, but speed is no longer in their vocabulary. World War Z also features Snyder’s faster and more deadly version of zombies. Train to Busan, a K-horror feature manages to crank things up even more. The Elixir follows this trend.
Stamboel utilises the Takashi Miike school of claret (blood) and gore. The writer/director adds his own mark on the horror filled film. He adds a bit of humour. *Check out the “half” zombie that manages to both scare and force a giggle or two as the thing races across the ground. Granted, it is horrified chuckles that erupt but it is funny nonetheless.*
Another brilliant touch is that Stamboel makes the zombies almost sound like the raptors in Jurassic Park world. This adds to the amped up tension surrounding the survivors trying to escape the monstrosities. Another nice touch, and a nod to the long running AMC zombiefest The Walking Dead, is their attraction to sound.
Make it Rain
In terms of “sound attraction,” a thunderstorm confuses the zombies and they head toward the thunderclaps. Rain, however, completely disorients the things mid attack.
It Works; But
The Elixir works, but there are moments that feel trope ridden and there are at least two cliches that annoy. Although to be fair, one feels that these things are almost a requirement of any zombie film. There are characters who will redeem themselves and others who will touch our heartstrings before getting bitten. Perhaps these touches are necessary.
The Verdict
This Netflix offering has no “official” budget listed, but one feels that this offering’s shooting “dollars” were least doubled since Sewu Dino. The FX look great and are very effective. The Elixir earns a solid 4.5 stars here. As stated before, the film is streaming on Netflix right now. Head on over and give yourself a zombie treat, before the Great Pumpkin comes to visit.
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