Generally speaking, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels largely depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Development
Among the film's greatest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It begins with a memorable initial scene in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family prior to the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough time to get to know its main characters prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. This has understandably caused a rift among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. This household patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two things: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues and their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits allowed me to relate with the characters enough to care about their fate—a rare feat for this style that often presents individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, so it's a real shock when things finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor prior to making an abrupt shift into shocking ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient time to immerse in its world before everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
This movie also offers a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While we do learn something regarding how it started, I wish the movie had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the effect this condition produces on humans is utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of questionable choices (as in any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find instead of standing still like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes those instances where these individuals express gratitude for each other seem much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight about family or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're successful scares, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and entertaining
