Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Growth
Among this movie's greatest assets is its excellent pacing. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence where a calm family gathering is violently disrupted when a van crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household prior to the disaster struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough time to get to know its main personalities prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. The family patriarch is her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot this was a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every family member is, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled the audience to connect to the personalities enough to care about their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently introduces characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a genuine surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy before taking a sudden shift toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments aren't centered as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to immerse in the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a new sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although some background is provided something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited context, the impact this affliction produces on people proves absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and they're practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of questionable decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object is available instead of freezing like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a welcome authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters express gratitude for each other seem much more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight about family or society, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are effective frights, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
