Generally speaking, I've had my fill of undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Development
One of the film's greatest assets is its superb rhythm. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence where a calm family gathering is violently disrupted when a van crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense moment is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough time to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and who loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. This household patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime to showing us the identity of every family member is, and how they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits enabled me to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon feat in a genre that often presents characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor before making an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" ground. These early moments aren't centered as much on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to immerse in its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Source
This movie also offers a fairly interesting reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the film devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of context, the effect this condition has on humans proves absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and are almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of questionable decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters express gratitude toward one another seem much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message about family or society, as well. Rather, it's primarily delivering frights. Yet these are successful frights, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
