Typically, I've had my fill of undead films. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels mostly depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated turning out quite enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Character Development
Among this movie's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It begins with a memorable opening sequence where a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted by a van crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges and begins attacking the attendees. This intense moment is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family before the disaster occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has predictably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household head is Nes' father, the owner of a popular herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two aspects: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of the film to showing us the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat for this style which frequently introduces individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, so it's a genuine surprise when things finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor before making a sudden turn toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to settle into the setting before everything gets upended.
Original Infection Origin
This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease stems from a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited context, the impact this condition produces on people proves utterly disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of questionable decision-making (like any any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters do show appreciation toward one another feel far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight about family or society, as well. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. Yet these are successful scares, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is an engaging and entertaining
