Generally speaking, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems mostly depleted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved quite entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Development
One of this movie's strongest strengths is its excellent rhythm. It begins with a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a van plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household before the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives viewers sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably caused a rift among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so invested in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of the film depicting us who each relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits allowed me to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare feat in a genre which frequently introduces characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, so it's a real shock once events eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before taking an abrupt turn into "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Origin
This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the movie had spent additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this condition has on people is utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
Even better than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of dubious decision-making (like any typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object they find instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters do show gratitude toward one another seem far more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are effective scares, and since the movie gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
