Typically, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels mostly depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Rhythm and Personal Growth
Among the film's strongest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It begins with a striking initial scene in which a calm family party is violently disrupted by a vehicle plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to see the family prior to the disaster occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know its main personalities prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably caused a rift among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but socially awkward, and he loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. This household head consists of her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of the film to showing viewers the identity of every relative is, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled the audience to connect with the characters enough to care about their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre that often presents individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a real surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and various household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy before making a sudden shift into "holy shit" territory. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in its world prior to everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent additional time on how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of background, the effect this condition produces on people proves utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
Even better than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of questionable choices (like any any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, which was a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear 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. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters express gratitude for each other seem much more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're effective scares, and because the movie gives each character enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
