Generally speaking, I've grown tired of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems mostly depleted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Character Development
One of the film's greatest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It begins with a memorable opening sequence where a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough opportunity to get to know the primary characters before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and who loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family head consists of Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who appears focused on just two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot this was a horror film—something that could sound like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime depicting viewers who each relative represents, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed me to connect with the characters enough to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style that often introduces characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a real surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor prior to taking an abrupt turn into "holy shit" territory. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Origin
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of background, the impact this condition produces on humans proves utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of dubious choices (as in typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like prey in headlights as death nears.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, 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 a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals express appreciation for each other feel much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight about family or society, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering frights. But they're effective scares, and since the film allows every personality enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable
