Typically, I'm over zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out quite entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Development
One of the film's greatest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family party is violently interrupted when a van crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient time to get to know its main personalities prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted but socially awkward, and he loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family head is Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves extremely tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film depicting us who each family member is, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities enabled the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat for this style that often introduces individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a real shock once events finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy before taking a sudden turn toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough time to immerse in the setting prior to it gets upended.
Original Infection Source
The film additionally presents a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent additional time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly potion which seems to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the effect this affliction has on humans proves utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and they're practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of dubious choices (as in typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available instead of freezing like prey in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals express gratitude toward one another feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are effective frights, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining
