Generally speaking, 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 feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Character Growth
One of the film's greatest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It begins with a striking opening sequence where a calm family gathering is violently interrupted when a vehicle crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family before the tragedy occurred.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough opportunity to get to know the primary personalities before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably caused a falling out among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and he loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and who 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 extremely tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so invested in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of the film to showing viewers who each family member is, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled me to relate with the characters enough to care about their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre that often presents individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, 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 initial scenes from the gathering and various family interactions actually evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor before making a sudden shift into shocking territory. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to immerse in the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
This movie also offers a quite interesting explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the film devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited context, the impact this affliction has on people is utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and they're almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some examples of questionable decision-making (like any typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument is available instead of freezing like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters do show appreciation toward one another feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message about family or society, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're successful frights, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining
