Typically, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Character Growth
Among the film's strongest strengths is its excellent rhythm. It begins using a striking opening sequence in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to see the family before the tragedy struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough time to get to know its main characters before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably caused a falling out between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime to showing viewers who each family member represents, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to connect to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a real surprise once events finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various family interactions actually evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to making a sudden turn toward shocking ground. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in its world prior to everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the film devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of background, the impact this affliction produces on humans is absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and are practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
More impressive compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of dubious choices (like any any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument is available rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude for each other feel far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message about family or society, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're effective scares, and since the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
