Typically, I've grown tired of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Development
Among this movie's greatest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It begins using a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household prior to the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. This has predictably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and who enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household head is her dad, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of the film to showing us who each relative represents, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits allowed the audience to relate to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style that often presents individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, so it's a real shock once events finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before making an abrupt turn into shocking territory. These early moments don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives enough time to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Origin
This movie additionally presents a quite interesting reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although we do learn something regarding 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 elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of context, the effect this affliction produces on humans is utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and are practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of questionable decision-making (like any any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people begin transforming 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 pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters express appreciation for each other feel far more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight about family or community, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering frights. But they're successful scares, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable
