Typically, I've grown tired of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems largely exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.
Superb Rhythm and Personal Growth
Among this movie's greatest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It begins with a striking opening sequence where a calm family gathering is violently disrupted by a vehicle plows into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense moment is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household before the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives viewers sufficient time to get to know the primary personalities prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably caused a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and he loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household head consists of Nes' father, the owner of a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime depicting viewers who each family member represents, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed me to relate with the characters enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often introduces characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a real shock once events finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy before making a sudden turn into shocking territory. These early moments don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in its world prior to everything gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the impact this condition produces on people proves absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and are practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
Even better than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of questionable decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like prey in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation for each other seem far more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound message about family or community, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are effective scares, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable
