Typically, I've grown tired of undead films. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Growth
One of the film's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence where a calm family party is violently disrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family before the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but socially awkward, and he enjoys gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. This household head consists of Nes' father, the owner of a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on only two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked this was a horror film—which might sound like a negative, but in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of the film to showing us the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing traits allowed me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently introduces characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, so it's a real shock when things eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor before making an abrupt shift into shocking ground. These early moments aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Original Infection Source
The film also offers a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn something regarding how it started, I wish the film had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited context, the impact this condition has on humans proves utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and they're practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
Even better than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of dubious choices (as in any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals express gratitude for each other feel much more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're effective frights, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and enjoyable
