Generally speaking, I'm over zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Character Growth
Among the film's greatest strengths is its excellent pacing. It begins with a striking initial scene where a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe this household before the tragedy occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough opportunity to get to know its main personalities before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. This has predictably led to a rift between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who seems focused on only two aspects: his business and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every family member is, and how they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing traits allowed the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat for this style that often presents individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a real shock once events eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various family interactions actually evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor prior to taking an abrupt shift into shocking territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient time to settle into the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Original Infection Origin
The film also offers a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited background, the impact this affliction produces on humans proves absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are a few examples of questionable choices (like any any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like prey in headlights while danger nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, which was a welcome authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters express appreciation toward one another seem far more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message about family or community, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are successful scares, and since the movie gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining
