Typically, I'm over undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels mostly depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Development
Among this movie's strongest strengths is its superb rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene where a calm family party is violently disrupted when a van crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household prior to the disaster struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary characters prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. This has understandably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. This household head consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime to showing us the identity of every relative represents, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat for this style which frequently presents characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to taking an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to settle into the setting before everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Origin
The film also offers a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal potion that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this condition has on people proves absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and are almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of dubious choices (like any any good undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find instead of freezing like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals express gratitude for each other feel much more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight about family or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're effective scares, and since the film gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves a captivating and enjoyable
