For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. However, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Growth
Among the film's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a van plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the tragedy struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough opportunity to get to know the primary personalities before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has understandably led to a rift among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. The family patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I almost forgot this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime to showing viewers who each family member represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits allowed me to relate to the personalities enough to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment for this style that often introduces individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a real shock when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and the multiple family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a story that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before making an abrupt shift into "holy shit" territory. These early scenes aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough time to immerse in the setting before it gets upended.
Original Infection Source
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the impact this condition has on humans proves utterly disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite convincing, and they're practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of questionable choices (like any any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available instead of standing still like prey caught in lights while danger approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family 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 agree over the phone to regroup at a close location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters do show gratitude toward one another feel far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are successful frights, and because the movie allows every personality enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable
