Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for months. However, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Development
One of the film's strongest assets lies in the superb pacing. It begins with a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted by a van crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe the family prior to the disaster struck.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough time to become acquainted with its main characters prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose ex close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and who loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. This household head consists of Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested with this household's issues and their personal conflicts to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every family member represents, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style that often introduces characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise once events eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and various household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama with slightly dark humor before taking an abrupt turn toward shocking territory. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient time to immerse in its world prior to it gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
This movie additionally presents a quite interesting reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the film devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly potion that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this affliction has on people is utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and are almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
Even better compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of questionable decision-making (as in any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
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 the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals express gratitude toward one another seem much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound message about family or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're successful frights, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
