Generally speaking, I've had my fill of undead films. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems largely depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for months. However, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Personal Development
Among the film's greatest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family party is violently interrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient time to get to know the primary personalities before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. This household patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on only two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so invested in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot this was a horror film—which might sound like a drawback, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime depicting us who each family member is, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing traits allowed me to connect with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often presents individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to devour, so it's a genuine shock once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to taking a sudden turn into shocking territory. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to settle into its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Origin
This movie additionally presents a quite intriguing reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the film had spent additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the effect this affliction produces on humans is utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and are practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of dubious decision-making (like any typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument is available instead of freezing like a deer in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, which was a welcome authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters express gratitude for each other seem much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're successful scares, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
