For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Personal Development
One of this movie's strongest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins with a memorable opening sequence where a calm family gathering is violently disrupted by a van crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to see this household prior to the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives viewers sufficient time to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably led to a rift among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. This household head consists of her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime to showing us the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled me to relate with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon feat for this style which frequently introduces individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a genuine shock when things finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to taking an abrupt shift into shocking territory. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the movie devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the effect this condition has on people is utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and are practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of dubious decision-making (like any typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her family are resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a welcome authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters express appreciation for each other feel far more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message about family or society, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're effective scares, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining
