Typically, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels largely exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth
One of the film's strongest assets is its excellent pacing. It begins with a memorable opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see the family before the disaster struck.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and who seems focused on only two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked this was a horror film—which might sound like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime to showing us who each relative represents, and how they add to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently presents characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy prior to taking a sudden turn toward shocking ground. These early moments don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough time to settle into its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Origin
This movie additionally presents a quite intriguing reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although some background is provided something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of background, the impact this condition has on humans is utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and are practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of questionable decision-making (as in any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with the nearest heavy object is available instead of standing still like prey caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome authentic deviation 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 apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters express appreciation toward one another feel far more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. Yet these are effective frights, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome is an engaging and enjoyable
