Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems mostly exhausted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Development
One of this movie's greatest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It begins with a striking opening sequence in which a calm family party is violently interrupted when a van crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. This has predictably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and who enjoys playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family head consists of her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who seems focused on only two things: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so invested in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film to showing viewers who each relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits enabled the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to devour, so it's a genuine surprise when things finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before making a sudden turn toward shocking ground. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Origin
The film also offers a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the movie devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this condition produces on humans is absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and are almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some instances of questionable decision-making (like any any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find rather than standing still like prey in headlights while danger approaches.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, which was a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters express appreciation for each other seem much more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're successful scares, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
