For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Character Growth
Among the film's strongest strengths is its superb pacing. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence where a calm family gathering is violently interrupted when a van crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family before the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough opportunity to get to know the primary characters prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably led to a falling out between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and he loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household head consists of her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare feat for this style that often presents individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, so it's a real shock when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to taking an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" territory. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in its world before everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Origin
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although we do learn something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent additional time on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly potion which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited context, the effect this condition has on humans proves absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and they're almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of questionable choices (as in typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find instead of freezing like prey in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes those instances where these individuals express gratitude for each other feel much more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message about family or society, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are effective frights, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable
