Generally speaking, I've grown tired of zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Character Development
Among the film's greatest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a van plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to see the family before the disaster occurred.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough opportunity to get to know the primary personalities before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on just two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested in the household's issues and their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, but in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film to showing us who each family member is, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled the audience to connect with the characters enough to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a real shock once events eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama with slightly dark humor prior to taking an abrupt shift into "holy shit" territory. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough time to immerse in the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Source
The film additionally presents a quite intriguing reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of context, the impact this affliction produces on people is absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and are almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some instances of dubious choices (like any typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like prey caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters express gratitude toward one another seem much more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight about family or society, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are successful scares, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable
