For the most part, I'm over zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category seems largely depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. However, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Development
One of this movie's greatest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering is violently interrupted when a vehicle crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense moment is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe this household prior to the tragedy occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient time to get to know the primary personalities before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured but socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked this was a horror film—which might seem like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities allowed the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently presents characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a real surprise when things finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor before taking a sudden shift into "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to immerse in its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Source
The film additionally presents a quite interesting explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the film had spent additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this condition has on humans is absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and are almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some instances of questionable decision-making (as in any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object they find instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals express appreciation toward one another seem much more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are effective scares, and because the film allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
