Generally speaking, I'm over undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated turning out quite enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Character Growth
One of the film's strongest assets is its excellent rhythm. It begins with a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a van crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the disaster occurred.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough time to get to know the primary personalities prior to the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has predictably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and he loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. This household head is her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so invested with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of the film to showing viewers the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities allowed the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon feat for this style which frequently presents individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a real surprise once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama with slightly dark humor prior to taking an abrupt shift into "holy shit" territory. These early scenes aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough time to settle into the setting before everything gets upended.
Unique Infection Origin
The film additionally presents a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a new sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to producing a deadly potion which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the impact this condition produces on people proves utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and are almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of questionable decision-making (as in any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than freezing like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, which was a welcome authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude for each other feel much more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message about family or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're successful frights, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable
