For the most part, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Development
One of the film's strongest strengths is its excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable opening sequence in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle plows into the seating section. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe the family before the disaster struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers sufficient time to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has understandably caused a falling out among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family head is her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked this was a horror film—which might sound like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime depicting us who each relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities enabled me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre 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 devour, thus it's a real shock when things finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor before making an abrupt turn toward shocking ground. These early scenes aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to settle into the setting before it gets upended.
Unique Infection Origin
The film also offers a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the film devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion which seems to include a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited context, the effect this affliction has on people proves utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and are almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
Even better than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of questionable decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find instead of standing still like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters do show gratitude for each other feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message about family or society, as well. Rather, it's primarily delivering frights. But they're effective frights, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and entertaining
