Generally speaking, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels largely exhausted at this point. Yet 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, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Growth
One of this movie's strongest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins using a memorable opening sequence where a calm family gathering is violently disrupted by a van plows into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to see the family prior to the tragedy struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough time to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has understandably led to a rift between the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. This household head consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime depicting viewers who each relative represents, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat for this style that often presents characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine surprise once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama with slightly dark humor before making an abrupt shift into shocking territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Source
The film additionally presents a quite intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this affliction has on humans proves utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and they're practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of dubious choices (as in typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available rather than standing still like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters express gratitude toward one another seem much more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. Yet these are successful scares, and since the film gives each character enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining
