Typically, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Development
Among this movie's strongest strengths is its superb rhythm. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family party is violently interrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see this household before the disaster struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough opportunity to get to know the primary characters before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. This has understandably led to a falling out between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and he loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. The family patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two things: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so invested with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot this was a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film depicting us who each family member is, and how they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits allowed the audience to connect to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often introduces characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy prior to taking an abrupt turn into "holy shit" ground. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient time to immerse in the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Origin
This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this affliction produces on people proves utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and are practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some examples of dubious decision-making (like any any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her family are resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object they find rather than standing still like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they decide over the phone to regroup at a close location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters do show gratitude for each other feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight about family or society, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're successful frights, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
