Typically, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels largely depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved quite entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Development
Among the film's greatest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence where a calm family party is violently disrupted by a van plows into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough opportunity to get to know its main personalities prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably caused a falling out between the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and who loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who seems focused on only two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this household's issues and their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime to showing us the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine shock when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and various family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor before taking a sudden shift into "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives enough opportunity to immerse in its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Origin
The film also offers a fairly interesting reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the effect this condition produces on humans is utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and are almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
Even better than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of questionable decision-making (as in typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters express appreciation for each other seem far more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering frights. Yet these are effective frights, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
