Typically, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved quite entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Character Development
Among this movie's greatest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It begins with a striking initial scene where a peaceful family party gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to see this household before the tragedy struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually gives viewers sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably caused a rift among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household patriarch is her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot this was a horror film—which might sound like a drawback, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime to showing us the identity of every relative is, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits allowed me to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently presents individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a real shock once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama with slightly dark humor before making an abrupt shift into "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments aren't centered as much on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to settle into its world before everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While we do learn 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 producing a deadly elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of context, the impact this affliction produces on people is absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and they're almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are a few instances of dubious decision-making (as in typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object is available rather than standing still like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a welcome authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances where these individuals express appreciation for each other seem much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's primarily delivering frights. Yet these are successful frights, and since the movie gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and enjoyable
