For the most part, I'm over zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems largely exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Personal Development
Among this movie's strongest assets lies in the superb pacing. It begins with a memorable initial scene in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a van crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe the family before the tragedy occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with its main characters prior to the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has understandably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. The family head is her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two things: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so invested in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked this was a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime depicting us the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled me to relate with the characters enough to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat for this style which frequently introduces individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various family interactions actually evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy before taking an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in its world before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Source
The film also offers a quite interesting explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the film devoted a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the effect this condition has on humans is absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are 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 CGI are also quite convincing, and are almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are a few examples of dubious choices (like any any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another feel much more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly 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. Yet these are successful frights, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome is an engaging and enjoyable
