For the most part, I've had my fill of undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems mostly depleted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Character Development
One of this movie's greatest assets is its superb rhythm. It begins using a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family party is violently interrupted when a van crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense moment is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough time to get to know the primary characters prior to the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. The family head is Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I nearly forgot I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every family member represents, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities enabled me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare feat in a genre that often introduces individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a real shock once events eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before taking an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" territory. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives enough time to immerse in its world before it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
The film also offers a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the source of this contagious disease stems from a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. Although some background is provided something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly potion that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the effect this affliction has on humans proves absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of dubious decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like prey in headlights as death nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals express appreciation toward one another seem much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering frights. Yet these are successful frights, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable
