Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth
One of the film's strongest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family party is violently disrupted when a van plows into the seating section. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family prior to the tragedy struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient time to get to know its main characters prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. This has understandably caused a falling out between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. The family head is Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on only two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so invested in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film depicting viewers who each relative is, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits enabled me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often presents individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, so it's a real surprise when things finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor prior to making an abrupt turn into shocking territory. These early moments don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to settle into its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Origin
The film also offers a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this condition produces on humans is utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and are practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of questionable choices (like any any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find instead of standing still like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters express gratitude toward one another feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight about family or society, as well. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're effective scares, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and entertaining
