For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems largely depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Development
One of this movie's strongest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a van plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household before the tragedy struck.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary characters before the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has predictably caused a falling out among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured but socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household head is her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime depicting us the identity of every relative represents, and how they add to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities enabled me to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine shock once events finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy prior to taking a sudden turn toward "holy shit" territory. These early scenes don't focus as much on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to settle into its world before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Origin
This movie also offers a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding how it started, I wish the movie had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited background, the impact this condition has on humans proves absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring decision, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and they're practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of questionable decision-making (as in any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find instead of freezing like prey caught in lights as death nears.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, 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 everything! trope often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes those instances where these individuals express gratitude toward one another seem far more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're successful scares, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining
