Generally speaking, I'm over zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels mostly depleted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Personal Growth
One of this movie's strongest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It begins with a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe this household prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough opportunity to get to know the primary personalities prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and who enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household head is Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime to showing us the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities allowed the audience to connect with the characters enough to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise once events eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy before making an abrupt turn into shocking territory. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough time to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Origin
This movie additionally presents a quite interesting explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this condition produces on people proves utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some examples of dubious decision-making (like any any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like prey caught in lights while danger approaches.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—seem authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another seem far more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message regarding relatives or community, as well. Rather, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are successful scares, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
