Generally speaking, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels largely exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. However, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out quite entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Personal Development
Among the film's strongest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It begins with a memorable opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle plows into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough time to become acquainted with its main characters prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. This household head is Nes' father, the owner of a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot this was a horror film—which might sound like a drawback, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat in a genre which frequently presents characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine shock once events eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a K-Drama with slightly dark humor before taking a sudden turn toward shocking territory. These introductory moments aren't centered as much on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting before it gets upended.
Original Infection Source
The film additionally presents a fairly interesting reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this condition produces on people is utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and are almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
Even better compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some instances of dubious decision-making (as in any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with the nearest heavy object is available instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger approaches.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals express gratitude for each other seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message about family or society, as well. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're effective scares, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
