For the most part, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Character Growth
One of the film's strongest assets is its excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a van plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking stranger emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household before the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough 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 wed to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. This household head is her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who appears focused on just two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime depicting us who each family member represents, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits enabled the audience to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon feat for this style which frequently presents characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before making an abrupt shift toward shocking territory. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives enough time to immerse in its world before it gets upended.
Original Zombification Origin
The film additionally presents a quite intriguing reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. Although some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the movie had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this condition has on people proves absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and are almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, there are a few examples of questionable decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like prey in headlights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from the "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 husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters express gratitude toward one another feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight about family or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are effective frights, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and enjoyable
