Generally speaking, I'm over undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Character Development
One of this movie's strongest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins with a memorable initial scene in which a calm family party is violently interrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to see this household before the tragedy struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough time to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably caused a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family head consists of her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of the film to showing us who each family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled me to connect with the characters enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently introduces characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine shock when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor before taking an abrupt shift toward shocking ground. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to settle into its world before everything gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
The film also offers a fairly interesting reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease stems from a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir which seems to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this condition has on people is utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring choice, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and they're almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of questionable choices (as in any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find instead of freezing like a deer in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree over the phone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation for each other seem much more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message about family or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are successful frights, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and entertaining
