Typically, I'm over zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels largely depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Development
Among this movie's greatest assets is its excellent pacing. It kicks off using a striking initial scene where a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough time to get to know its main personalities before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. This has predictably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and who loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of the film to showing us the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a real shock once events finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a story that masquerades like a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy before taking a sudden turn toward shocking ground. These early scenes aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient time to settle into the setting before it gets upended.
Original Infection Source
The film additionally presents a quite interesting reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the film had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to producing a deadly potion which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the effect this affliction produces on people is utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and they're almost certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
Even better than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of questionable decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object is available rather than freezing like prey in headlights while danger approaches.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation for each other seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or community, as well. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are successful scares, and because the film gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and entertaining
