For the most part, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels largely exhausted at this point. 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, managed to subvert my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Character Development
Among this movie's strongest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins with a memorable initial scene in which a calm family gathering is violently disrupted when a vehicle plows into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual emerges and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe this household prior to the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch is her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so invested with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime to showing viewers who each relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled the audience to connect to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat for this style that often introduces characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a real surprise when things finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy before making a sudden turn into shocking territory. These early moments don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Source
This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of background, the impact this affliction produces on people is utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite convincing, and are almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of dubious decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of freezing like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope often seen in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation for each other seem far more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are successful frights, and since the film allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and enjoyable
