Generally speaking, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems mostly exhausted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Character Growth
One of the film's greatest strengths is its excellent rhythm. It begins with a memorable initial scene in which a calm family gathering is violently disrupted by a vehicle plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family prior to the disaster occurred.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough time to get to know its main personalities prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has predictably caused a rift among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a well-known herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on just two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves extremely tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I almost forgot this was a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime depicting us who each relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits allowed me to connect to the personalities enough to care about their fate—a rare feat in a genre that often presents individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine shock when things eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and various family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to taking a sudden shift toward shocking ground. These early moments don't focus as much on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to settle into its world prior to everything gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie also offers a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a new sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the movie devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited background, the effect this affliction has on people is absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
Even better than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of questionable decision-making (like any any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find instead of freezing like prey caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters express gratitude for each other seem much more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message regarding relatives or community, as well. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are effective scares, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining
