Generally speaking, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category feels mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out quite entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Development
One of this movie's strongest assets is its superb rhythm. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence where a calm family gathering is violently disrupted by a van plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see the family before the disaster struck.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough time to become acquainted with the primary characters before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably caused a falling out between the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family head is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so invested with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of the film depicting us the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style that often presents individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy before taking a sudden shift toward shocking territory. These early moments don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to settle into its world before it gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Source
This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting reason 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 stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of context, the effect this condition produces on people proves utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and are almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of dubious decision-making (as in any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find rather than freezing like prey in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals express gratitude for each other seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message regarding relatives or community, as well. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are successful frights, and since the film gives each character enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is an engaging and enjoyable
