Generally speaking, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Character Development
Among this movie's strongest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It begins using a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly interrupted when a van crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe the family prior to the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough opportunity to get to know its main characters before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out between the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and who loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so engrossed with this household's issues along with their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every family member is, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits enabled me to connect to the personalities enough to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently presents characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine surprise when things finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor before taking an abrupt turn into shocking ground. These early scenes aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives enough time to settle into the setting before it gets upended.
Original Infection Source
The film also offers a quite intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a new sample of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the movie devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of background, the impact this condition produces on humans proves utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
Even better than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of dubious choices (like any any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to kick an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object is available rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude for each other feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're successful scares, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable
