For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels mostly depleted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for months. However, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out quite entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Character Growth
One of the film's strongest strengths is its superb pacing. It begins with a striking initial scene in which a calm family party is violently disrupted when a van plows into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to see the family before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough time to get to know its main personalities before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has predictably led to a falling out among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. This household patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so invested with this household's issues and their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime depicting us the identity of every family member represents, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare feat in a genre which frequently presents characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a real surprise once events finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama with slightly dark humor prior to making a sudden turn toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to settle into its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Origin
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this condition produces on people proves absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and they're practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
More impressive compared to the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of questionable decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters express gratitude for each other feel far more sincere.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight about family or community, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering frights. Yet these are successful scares, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable
