Typically, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category feels mostly depleted at this point. 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 subvert my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Superb Rhythm and Character Growth
One of this movie's strongest assets is its superb pacing. It kicks off using a striking initial scene where a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted when a van plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family prior to the disaster occurred.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough time to become acquainted with its main personalities before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has understandably led to a falling out between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. This household patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so invested with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked this was a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film depicting us who each family member represents, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed me to relate with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat for this style that often introduces characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a real shock when things finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy before taking an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" ground. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient time to immerse in the setting before everything gets upended.
Unique Zombification Origin
This movie additionally presents a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the film had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of context, the effect this condition has on people is utterly disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and are almost certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of dubious choices (like any typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available instead of freezing like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals 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! cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters do show gratitude for each other feel far more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message about family or community, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're effective frights, and because the film gives each character enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining
