Generally speaking, I'm over undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category seems mostly exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. However, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Character Development
One of the film's strongest assets is its excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted by a van plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense scene is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family prior to the disaster struck.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough opportunity to get to know its main characters prior to the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family head is her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on only two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so invested in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime depicting us the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities allowed me to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a genuine shock when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy before making a sudden turn toward shocking territory. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting before it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
The film also offers a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the movie had spent additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of background, the effect this condition produces on humans proves absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and they're practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of questionable choices (like any typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters do show gratitude toward one another feel much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're effective scares, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and entertaining
