Typically, I'm over undead films. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Character Growth
One of this movie's strongest assets lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence where a calm family party is violently disrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to observe this household before the tragedy struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough time to get to know its main personalities prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has predictably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and he enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested in the household's issues and their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could sound like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film to showing viewers the identity of every family member is, and how they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre that often introduces characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a real shock once events eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor before making an abrupt shift into "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to settle into the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
The film also offers a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this condition has on people proves absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
Even better than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are a few examples of dubious choices (as in any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like a deer in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, this proved a welcome realistic subversion from that "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 cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals express appreciation toward one another seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are effective frights, and because the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
