Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems mostly depleted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. However, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Growth
One of the film's greatest strengths is its excellent rhythm. It begins with a memorable opening sequence where a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household prior to the disaster occurred.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough time to get to know the primary characters prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has predictably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. The family patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime to showing us who each relative is, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities allowed the audience to relate to the personalities enough to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often introduces characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a genuine surprise once events eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to taking a sudden shift toward shocking ground. These introductory moments don't focus as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this contagious disease stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the movie had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of background, the effect this condition produces on people is absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
Even better than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are a few examples of dubious decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available rather than standing still like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters express appreciation for each other seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. Yet these are effective scares, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
