The Elixir Gives Horror A New Look

The Elixir, as unique as its name, isn’t what you’d expect. It drags a bucket of fright behind it, similar to Final Destination: Bloodlines, yet it stands firm on its own. Directed by Kimo Stamboel and co-produced by Edwin Nazir and Kimo Stamboel, this Indonesian horror film landed on Netflix on October 23, 2025. If you’re hunting for something strange, chaotic, and deeply unsettling this weekend, then add The Elixir to your watchlist.

The movie builds around a family who runs a herbal-medicine company that produces tea. Business is sinking fast, and desperation pushes them toward something unnatural. They attempt to create a new formula that promises youth and wealth but eventually tears everything apart.

With a cast that includes Donny Damara, Eva Celia, Mikkha Tambayong, and Marthino Lio, The Elixir doesn’t fail to pull you into its web. Each performer gives a distinct flavor to the story, one that mixes greed, science, and madness.

From the start, the film gives off that thick Indonesian essence of community and chaos. What begins as an innocent celebration soon becomes a horror-filled descent into decay, reminding viewers that sometimes curiosity is the most dangerous experiment of all.

Premise

The Elixir opens with a village celebration at the chief’s house. Everyone is dancing, drinking, and laughing. Meanwhile, Ningsih, played by Claresta Taufan, is in the kitchen washing dishes and making tea. Her boyfriend Rahman tries to propose but gets interrupted by a call from his police superior. He promises to make it up to her later that night, yet fate has other plans.

The scene switches to a wealthy family, who run the struggling pharmaceutical business. Their fame in tea production is fading fast. Mr. Sadimin, the aging CEO, is desperate to restore the company’s glory. Against all advice, he tries a new drug formula they name The Elixir, which he personally tests.

Within hours, the transformation begins. His wrinkles fade. His skin glows. His voice gains youthful strength. It seems like a miracle until the miracle becomes monstrous. His eyes turn sickly yellow, veins crawl across his face, and blood spills from his mouth. His wife Karina and their children watch in terror as the man they love changes before them.

What follows is chaos. Sadimin turns violent, attacking his son Bambong and biting a staff member. In panic, Bambong accidentally kills his father with a play-gun arrow. But the real horror begins afterward. The virus spreads through contact and ingestion of infected blood. Before long, the small Indonesian town becomes a nightmare of infected people—half-human, half-beast—hungry for blood and destruction.

Now, Karina, Bambong, Kenes, Ningsih, Rudi, Han and Rahman must fight for survival. What started as a scientific breakthrough becomes a war between humanity and its darkest instincts.

Cast and Performances

Claresta Taufan as Ningsih

Ningsih is the soul of The Elixir. Claresta brings her to life with raw fear and quiet strength. She’s that one person who never wanted to be part of the chaos but gets caught in it anyway. Her scenes show a woman torn between love and survival. You can almost feel her fear through the screen, the trembling hands, the quick glances, the hesitant breaths. She doesn’t overact. She reacts naturally, as anyone would when the world collapses around them.

Eva Celia as Karina

Eva Celia delivers an emotional performance as Karina, the misunderstood wife. Everyone thinks she’s a gold-digger, but Eva’s portrayal gives Karina depth beyond the accusations. Her pain feels real, her tears carry weight. There’s a scene where she looks at her husband’s body, trying to hold back tears, and the silence there hits harder than any scream. Eva doesn’t rush her emotions; she lets them sit long enough to hurt.

Marthino Lio as Bambong

Bambong is the film’s comic relief, and Marthino Lio handles it with perfect timing. His character is chaotic, confused, yet funny. When everything around him falls apart, he still manages to bring light moments that balance the film’s tension. The bond between him and his nephew adds warmth to the cold horror that surrounds them. Marthino knows how to play panic without making it look ridiculous, which is rare in horror movies.

Donny Damara as Sadimin

Although Donny Damara has limited screen time, he sets the tone for everything that follows. As Sadimin, his desperation and greed fuel the story’s disaster. Donny portrays a man who can’t accept aging and is willing to gamble everything for youth. His transformation scene is one of the film’s most disturbing moments, not only for its visuals but for what it represents, the curse of wanting more than life allows.

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What I Liked

The first thing that stands out in The Elixir is its originality. It doesn’t borrow from Western zombie clichés. It builds its own logic, rooted in herbal medicine, greed, and family drama. The idea of a pharmaceutical cure turning people into violent, brain-dead creatures feels fresh.

The makeup department deserves serious praise. The practical effects outshine heavy CGI. The decayed flesh, the pulsating holes on skin, the cracked lips, it’s all done in a way that makes you wince. There’s something deeply unsettling about the body horror in this movie. It preys on tropophobia, the fear of small holes, and uses it effectively to disturb viewers.

The camera work is impressive too. The director doesn’t rely on jump scares alone. He lets tension build slowly through long, quiet takes. You find yourself holding your breath before the chaos begins. The lighting also deserves credit, warm, festive colors in the opening scenes turn cold and bluish once the infection spreads. That shift tells the story even without dialogue.

Another thing I loved was how Indonesian culture stayed visible through it all. From the tea rituals to the community setting, you never forget where the story comes from. It’s rare to see horror that feels both local and universal.

The film also handles greed beautifully. Sadimin’s refusal to let go of his company becomes his downfall. You can read the whole movie as a metaphor for human obsession with youth and wealth. The Elixir isn’t just about monsters; it’s about what happens when ambition eats morality.

What I Didn’t Like

Still, The Elixir isn’t without flaws. The pacing drops several times. Some scenes stretch too long, especially during family arguments. You start wishing they’d stop talking and act. The characters often freeze when danger approaches, almost as if waiting for someone to yell “Action!”

Another major issue is communication. The characters rarely say what they’re thinking. It’s not only the language barrier or subtitles, it’s as if they themselves don’t know how to express fear. You find yourself whispering at the screen:

“Run now.”

“Don’t open that door.”

“Stop talking, they’ll hear you.”

That sense of helplessness becomes exhausting after a while. In some horror films, silence builds tension. Here, it sometimes feels like hesitation.

The story could also use tighter editing. Certain moments linger unnecessarily. For instance, the scene after Sadimin’s death drags on too long. You already understand the chaos, yet the movie keeps circling it. Trimming that part would have improved the overall rhythm.

And even though the concept is strong, some subplots feel underdeveloped. Rahman, for example, starts as an important character but slowly fades into the background. His arc never reaches full potential.

Despite all that, The Elixir remains watchable. Its flaws don’t ruin the experience; they just remind you it could’ve been better.

Verdict

If horror, apocalypse, and zombie thrillers excite you, The Elixir will pull you in immediately. It’s violent, unpredictable, and soaked in emotion. You won’t only feel fear; you’ll feel frustration too. The frustration of watching people make foolish choices, yet the fear keeps you glued.

The movie isn’t your typical jump-scare showpiece. It’s deeper, stranger, and sometimes painfully slow. But once the infection spreads, there’s no turning away. You’ll scream, you’ll sigh, and you might even laugh out of disbelief. That’s what makes The Elixir interesting, it doesn’t try to please. It disturbs, confuses, and leaves you thinking about human greed long after the credits roll.

The cinematography, makeup, and sound design all come together to create a world that feels too real. The blood looks thick, the screams sound close, and the silence between scenes keeps your heart racing. If you’re watching alone, prepare to pause it a few times just to catch your breath.

It’s also worth noting that Indonesian horror has been gaining recognition lately. Films like Satan’s Slaves and May the Devil Take You paved the way for stories like this. The Elixir continues that trend, proving that Southeast Asian filmmakers are unafraid to explore bold ideas in horror.

So, by all means, grab your friends this weekend, dim the lights, and play The Elixir on Netflix. Watch how everything you thought was safe turns inside out. Share your reactions, the screams, the laughs, and the frustration. It’s one of those movies that’s better experienced together than alone.

My Rating

For its bold concept, strong performances, and unforgettable visuals, The Elixir earns a solid 3.5 out of 5. It stands in the same lane as The Conjuring: Last Rites, though with a more distinct cultural flavor.

The film’s originality deserves recognition, even if its execution falters at times. It might not be perfect, but it’s brave. And bravery in storytelling always deserves a seat at the table.

So, if you love horror that mixes culture, science, and madness, The Elixir is waiting for you. It’s not polished. It’s not predictable. It’s chaotic, loud, and unforgettable, the kind of movie that stays with you long after the final scene.

Our rating 3.5

Author

Amarachi Ndukwe

Amarachi Ndukwe is a talented movie reviewer who knows how to make films easy to understand and fun to discuss. She shares her thoughts in a clear and engaging way, helping her readers see what makes each movie special. With a great eye for detail, she explains stories, themes, and characters in a way that anyone can enjoy.