Typically, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems largely depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. However, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated turning out quite enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Personal Growth
One of this movie's strongest assets is its excellent rhythm. It begins with a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a van plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family before the tragedy struck.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough time to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. The family head consists of her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is extremely strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film depicting viewers the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed me to relate with the characters enough to care about their outcome—a rare feat in a genre which frequently introduces characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a real surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and various household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama with slightly dark humor prior to making an abrupt shift into "holy shit" ground. These early scenes don't focus as much on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient time to settle into the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
The film additionally presents a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. Although some background is provided something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this affliction produces on humans proves utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and are practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of questionable choices (like any typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters do show appreciation toward one another feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering frights. Yet these are successful scares, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining
