Generally speaking, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels mostly depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Superb Rhythm and Character Growth
One of the film's strongest strengths is its excellent rhythm. It begins with a memorable initial scene in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a van plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household before the disaster occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient time to become acquainted with its main characters before the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two aspects: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this household's issues and their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film depicting us the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities enabled the audience to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat for this style which frequently presents characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a real surprise once events eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy prior to making an abrupt shift into "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to immerse in its world before it gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Source
This movie also offers a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the movie devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly potion that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited context, the effect this affliction has on humans is utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some instances of questionable decision-making (like any any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger approaches.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude for each other seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're effective frights, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable
