Generally speaking, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels mostly exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Personal Development
Among the film's greatest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It begins using a memorable initial scene where a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to see this household before the tragedy occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough time to become acquainted with its main personalities before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. This has understandably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family head consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who appears focused on just two things: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime to showing us the identity of every relative represents, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled the audience to relate with the characters enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise once events eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama with slightly dark humor before making a sudden turn toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to immerse in the setting before everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Origin
The film also offers a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this condition produces on humans is absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and are almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are a few examples of dubious choices (as in typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available instead of standing still like prey caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby spot. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals express appreciation toward one another feel far more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound message regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. But they're effective scares, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome is an engaging and enjoyable
