Generally speaking, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems largely exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Growth
Among this movie's greatest strengths is its excellent pacing. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence in which a calm family party is violently disrupted by a van plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense moment is then followed by a look back, allowing us to observe the family prior to the disaster struck.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has predictably led to a falling out among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. The family head consists of Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so invested in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities allowed the audience to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often introduces individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a real surprise when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor prior to taking a sudden turn into shocking territory. These early scenes aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to settle into its world before it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Origin
The film also offers a quite interesting explanation for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the effect this affliction has on humans is utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and are 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 instances of questionable choices (as in any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to kick an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another seem far more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're effective scares, and since the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable
