Generally speaking, I've grown tired of undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels mostly depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Growth
One of this movie's strongest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene where a calm family gathering is violently interrupted by a van plows into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense moment is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household before the tragedy occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough opportunity to get to know its main personalities prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose ex close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has understandably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household head consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so invested in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked this was a horror film—which might sound like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime to showing viewers who each family member is, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed me to relate to the personalities enough to care about their fate—an uncommon feat for this style that often presents individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a real shock once events eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and various family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy prior to making an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting before it gets upended.
Unique Infection Origin
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the film devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this affliction produces on people proves absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and are practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of dubious decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like prey caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals express gratitude for each other feel much more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight about family or community, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are effective frights, and because the movie allows every personality enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
