Typically, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. However, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Character Growth
One of the film's greatest assets is its excellent pacing. It begins using a memorable opening sequence where a peaceful family party is violently disrupted when a van plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see the family prior to the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary characters prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted but socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch is her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime depicting us who each family member is, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities allowed the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat for this style which frequently introduces individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a real shock once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before making a sudden shift into shocking ground. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to immerse in its world prior to it gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a new batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the film had spent additional time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the effect this affliction has on people proves absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and are practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of dubious choices (like any typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument is available instead of freezing like prey caught in lights while danger approaches.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from that "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 loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals express appreciation toward one another feel far more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message about family or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are successful scares, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining
