Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels largely exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Character Growth
One of the film's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It begins with a striking opening sequence in which a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted when a van plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household before the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has predictably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and who loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. This household patriarch is her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime depicting viewers who each relative is, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre that often introduces individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a real surprise once events eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy before making a sudden shift into shocking territory. These early moments aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to settle into its world prior to everything gets upended.
Original Infection Source
The film also offers a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the effect this affliction produces on humans proves utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and are almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of dubious choices (like any typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree over the phone to regroup at a close location. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another feel much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message about family or society, as well. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. Yet these are effective frights, and since the film allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining
