Generally speaking, I've had my fill of undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category feels largely exhausted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Character Growth
One of this movie's strongest assets is its excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a striking initial scene in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a van plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to see this household prior to the disaster occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough time to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. This has predictably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. The family patriarch is her dad, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed in the household's issues and their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime depicting us the identity of every family member represents, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities enabled me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre that often introduces characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to devour, so it's a real surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before making a sudden turn toward shocking territory. These early moments aren't centered as much on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to settle into its world before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of context, the effect this condition produces on people proves absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring choice, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and they're practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
Even better than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some examples of questionable decision-making (as in any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family are resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find rather than standing still like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord 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 forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This makes those instances when these characters do show appreciation toward one another seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound message regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering frights. Yet these are successful frights, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable
