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The Elixir (2025)

★★½ — The Elixir (2025)

Kimo Stamboel is one half of the Mo Brothers directing duo, the Indonesian genre filmmakers who built a cult reputation with visceral horror-action hybrids like Killers (2014) and Headshot (2016), though here he works solo under Mowin Pictures. The Elixir arrives during a sustained boom in Southeast Asian zombie and outbreak cinema, a wave that accelerated after the regional success of South Korean productions and has since produced a string of Indonesian entries keen to claim their own corner of the subgenre. Mikha Tambayong and Eva Celia are both well-established names in Indonesian popular culture, bringing a degree of commercial familiarity to what is otherwise a relatively modest production aimed squarely at the Netflix global audience.

The Elixir (2025), Netflix’s latest Indonesian entry into the Asian zombie wave, is a perfectly serviceable genre flick, but that’s about as far as it goes. It rides the now-familiar wave of Train to Busan inspired storytelling: a mysterious outbreak, fast-moving zombies, emotional family drama, and a race against time to survive. The premise (a pharmaceutical experiment gone wrong unleashing a rage virus across the rural outskirts of Jakarta) has potential, and there are moments of tension, solid practical effects, and some slick action sequences in tight farmhouse spaces. The film looks good (gritty cinematography, strong lighting, and a moody score that amps up the dread) and it’s clear the team put effort into making it feel grounded and urgent. There’s even a touch of social commentary buried beneath the chaos, touching on medical ethics and corporate greed. But for all its polish, The Elixir never rises above being “just okay.” The characters are underdeveloped, the dialogue leans on clichés, and the story hits every predictable beat without surprise or real emotional punch. Compared to standouts like it feels generic, another running zombie movie in a sea of them. Decently made, watchable in one sitting, but ultimately forgettable. It doesn’t bring anything new to the table, nor does it elevate the material enough to stand out. If you’re deep in the zombie groove and need your next fix, it’ll do. But don’t expect to remember it tomorrow. Par for the course, indeed.

Rating: ★★½ | Year: 2025 | Watched: 2025-11-16

View on Letterboxd →

Where to watch (UK)

Stream: Netflix · Netflix Standard with Ads
Physical: Amazon UK

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