Netflix’s Latest Zombie Flick Becomes an Unexpected Hit Overnight
Netflix’s latest zombie film, The Elixir, is quickly gaining attention despite having almost no marketing or critical reviews.
The Indonesian movie, directed and co-written by Kimo Stamboel, has already started climbing Netflix’s Top 10, surprising viewers with its fresh take on the zombie genre.
The film focuses on a fractured family that runs an herbal medicine business. Their latest experiment, a new elixir, goes horribly wrong, sparking a zombie outbreak. Suddenly, this family, who can barely get along, must put aside their differences and fight to survive as the world around them collapses.
A deadly zombie outbreak and the family trapped at its epicenter, desperate to survive.
— Netflix (@netflix) October 23, 2025
The Elixir is now on Netflix pic.twitter.com/RpaylifkYu
The Elixir stars Mikha Tambayong as Kenes, Eva Celia as Karina, Donny Damara as Sadimin, Marthino Lio as Bambang, and Dimas Anggara as Rudi. It was released on Netflix on October 23. According to sources, the story combines traditional zombie chaos with family drama, giving it a unique flavor compared to typical horror films.
Despite its low profile, viewers are responding positively, calling it an unexpected gem. Many are drawn to the mix of dark humor, tension, and the dynamic between the family members as they navigate the apocalypse.
The film’s director, Kimo Stamboel, is already known for innovative takes on horror in Indonesian cinema. With The Elixir, he appears to have struck a balance between thrills and emotional storytelling.
It’s rare for a film with so little hype to capture such attention on streaming platforms, which has led some to predict that The Elixir could become a cult favorite.
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