Typically, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth
Among this movie's strongest assets is its excellent rhythm. It begins with a memorable initial scene where a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted by a van plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see this household before the tragedy struck.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient time to get to know its main characters prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably caused a falling out among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch is her dad, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on only two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama that I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a real surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to making an abrupt turn into "holy shit" territory. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to immerse in its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Origin
The film additionally presents a fairly interesting reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie devoted additional time on how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the impact this affliction has on people is absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and are practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, there are a few instances of dubious decision-making (like any any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a welcome authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone 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 on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters do show gratitude for each other feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight about family or society, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're successful frights, and because the film gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable
