For the most part, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels mostly depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth
One of the film's greatest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins with a striking initial scene in which a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see this household before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient time to get to know its main characters prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. This has understandably led to a falling out among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family head is Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime depicting us the identity of every relative is, and how they add to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to relate with the characters enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently introduces characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine shock when things eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before taking an abrupt turn into shocking territory. These introductory moments aren't centered as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to immerse in the setting before it gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a quite interesting reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease originates in a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While some background is provided something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the movie devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of background, the impact this condition has on humans is absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
Even better than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of dubious choices (as in any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes those instances where these individuals express gratitude toward one another seem far more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight about family or community, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are effective scares, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining
