Generally speaking, I've had my fill of undead films. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category feels largely depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out quite entertaining.
Superb Rhythm and Character Development
One of this movie's strongest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It begins with a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see the family before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough opportunity to get to know its main personalities prior to the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a falling out between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family head is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on only two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, but in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime to showing us the identity of every family member is, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed the audience to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine shock when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to taking a sudden turn into "holy shit" territory. These early moments don't focus as much on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to immerse in the setting before it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Origin
This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the film had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this condition has on humans is absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and are almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
More impressive than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of questionable choices (as in any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object is available instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters express gratitude for each other feel much more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. Yet these are successful scares, and because the film allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and enjoyable
