Generally speaking, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels largely depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.
Superb Rhythm and Character Development
Among the film's greatest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable opening sequence where a peaceful family party is violently interrupted by a vehicle plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household prior to the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with its main personalities before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two things: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so invested with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked this was a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film to showing viewers the identity of every relative represents, and how they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare feat for this style which frequently introduces individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to devour, so it's a genuine shock once events finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor prior to making an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" ground. These early moments don't focus as much on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to settle into its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Origin
This movie also offers a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a new sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent additional time on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this condition has on people proves utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
More impressive than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of dubious decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find instead of standing still like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters do show gratitude toward one another feel much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message about family or community, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up frights. But they're successful frights, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
