Generally speaking, I've grown tired of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels mostly exhausted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Superb Rhythm and Personal Development
Among the film's strongest strengths is its excellent pacing. It begins with a memorable initial scene in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see the family prior to the tragedy occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient time to get to know its main personalities before the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. This household patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime depicting us the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing traits allowed the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often presents characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to devour, so it's a real surprise once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and various family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a story that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy before making an abrupt shift toward shocking territory. These introductory moments don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to immerse in the setting before everything gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the movie had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the impact this affliction produces on humans is absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some instances of dubious decision-making (as in typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object they find rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals express gratitude toward one another feel far more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. Yet these are effective scares, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable
